Rocket observations of the precipitation of electrons by ground VLF transmitters

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA094iA06p06825· OSTI ID:5940033

Arnoldy, R L; Kintner, P M

Below an altitude of 400 km or less over the NASA Wallops Island range, stably trapped particles do not exist because of the South Atlantic Anomaly. In an experiment to measure scattered electrons at these altitudes (NASA flight 36:013), electron detectors clearly measured two monoenergetic electron peaks above the low background. The two monoernergetic peaks are attributed to the resonant interaction of electrons with VLF waves from Navy ground transmitters at Cutler, Maine, and Annapolis, Maryland. The transmitter signals were measured with electric and magnetic receivers aboard the rocket, and their propagation through the ionosphere and correlation with the precipitated electrons are discussed. In addition, energetic ions were also measured to be in the bounce loss cone during this rocket flight. Because of increased geomagnetic activity, it apears that the ring current extended inward to at least the L=2.5 magnetic shell and enhanced convection eroded the plasmasphere. The inward movement or compression of the plasmapause is consistent with a steep gradient in the equatorial cold plasma density and a localized equatorial interaction region needed to account for the monoenergetic elecrtron precipitation. The role of the geomagnetic activity in ''priming'' the trapped electron population for cyclotron resonance with VLF waves such that there is continuous scattering into the bounce loss cone remains uncertain. /copyright/ American Geophysical Union 1989

• Research Organization: Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham (US); School of Electrical Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, New York
• OSTI ID: 5940033
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 94:A6; 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
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
COLD PLASMA
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMASPHERE
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RING CURRENTS
ROCKETS
WAVE PROPAGATION