Observations of large-amplitude, whistler mode wave ducts in the outer plasmasphere

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA094iA11p15393· OSTI ID:5838888

Koons, H C ^[1]

---

1. Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (USA)

Strong enhancements of whistler mode hiss emissions have been observed to correlate with plasma density enhancements in the outer plasmasphere between L = 4 and L = 6. This indicates that these density enhancements are acting as whistler mode wave ducts. The wave and density observations were made simultaneously by the Aerospace swept frequency receiver aboard the AMPTE IRM spacecraft. The plasma density is determined from a narrow-band line near the plasma frequency. The hiss emissions generally occur below 2kHz. The ducts consist of density enhancements of more than 40%. Density gradients on the sides of the ducts range from 0.10 to 0.24 el cm{sup {minus}3} km{sup {minus}1}. The half width of each duct is typically 250 km. The wave intensity maximizes about 15km from the center of the duct toward the outside, i.e., the side with a negative density gradient with increasing distance. The wave intensity near the center of a duct is an order of magnitude higher than the wave intensity at the density minimum between ducts.

• OSTI ID: 5838888
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 94:A11; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLITUDES
CORRELATIONS
DISTANCE
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
IONIZATION
LANGMUIR FREQUENCY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NOISE
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMASPHERE
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SATELLITES
WAVE PROPAGATION
WHISTLERS