Observations of VLF transmitter-induced depletions of inner zone electrons

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL010i008p00619· OSTI ID:5667643

Vampola, A L

Precipitation spikes of electrons, in which the energy spread of the peak is narrow (less than 50 keV) and the peak energy is a strong function of the location in L, have been observed in the region 1.5 < L < 2.0 and have been ascribed to interactions between waves from high power VLF transmitters on the ground and the precipitated electrons (Vampola and Kuck, 1978; Imhof et al., 1981). On numerous occasions when these spikes were observed at low altitude by instrumentation on the S3-2 satellite, a significant depletion of electrons at the same energies was observed high on the field line. These depletions indicate that the loss rate of electrons due to VLF transmitters is significant and usually exceeds the rate at which radial diffusion is refilling those field lines. Electrons with energies between 36 keV and 317 keV in the region 1.9 < L < 1.6 were observed to have lifetimes limited to a few days by interactions with waves from VLF transmitters. Thus the outer edge of the inner zone is defined by this wave-particle process.

• Research Organization: Space Sciences Laboratory, The Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, California 90009
• OSTI ID: 5667643
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 10:8; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
DIFFUSION
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FUNCTIONS
LEPTONS
MAGNETOSPHERE
PLASMA DRIFT
RADIATION BELTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
TRAPPED ELECTRONS