DE-1 observations of lower hybrid waves excited by VLF whistler mode waves

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/90GL02598· OSTI ID:5941435

Bell, T F; Inan, U S; Sonwalkar, V S; Helliwell, R A ^[1]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

Recent satellite data show high amplitude lower hybrid (LH) waves excited by electromagnetic (EM) whistler mode waves throughout magnetospheric regions where small scale magnetic-field-aligned plasma density irregularities exist. One important consequence in the auroral acceleration region is the heating of suprathermal ions by the excited LH waves. To evaluate such heating it is necessary to know the wavelength ({lambda}) range of the waves, information not previously available since most past observations were made with long (l {ge} 75; l = antenna length) electric dipole antennas which have very poor response for {lambda} < l. New observations using the short 9 m electric dipole antenna on the DE-1 spacecraft show that LH waves with {lambda} {le} 10 m are excited by EM input waves from ground-based VLF transmitters. Sequential observations on the short (9 m) and the long (200 m) dipole antennas show that the long antenna generally has no measurable response to LH waves with {lambda} {le} 26 m. Since most previous correlative observations of LH waves and ion conics in the low altitude auroral acceleration region have involved long electric antennas, it is suggested that the intensity of the LH waves in this region may have been seriously underestimated.

• OSTI ID: 5941435
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 18:3; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
AMPLITUDES
AURORAL ZONES
CHARGED PARTICLES
CORRELATIONS
DRIFT INSTABILITY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HEATING
INSTABILITY
ION DRIFT
IONOSPHERE
IONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MODE CONVERSION
NOISE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA WAVES
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
WHISTLERS