Observations of upstream ions and low-frequency waves on ISEE 3

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA088iA01p00085· OSTI ID:6079314

Sanderson, T R; Reinhard, R; Wenzel, K; Roelof, E C; Smith, E J

We present three examples of correlated observations of 35- to 1600-keV upstream ions and low-frequency waves measured on ISEE 3, located between approx.76 and approx.200 R/sub E/ from the earth's bow shock. The observations show that when no upsteam waves are present, the particle anisotropies are beamlike, aligned along the magnetic field after transformation into the E x B drift velocity reference frame. When waves are present, the pitch angle distributions are broadened, the amount of broadening being correlated with the amount of wave activity. These waves are transverse, circularly polarized, and have a period of approx.30 s. From our observations we conclude that during long-lasting events an equilibrium is reached where the region between the spacecraft and the bow shock contains a significant amount of low-frequency wave activity, together with significant pitch angle scattering. The amount of scattering decreases with upsteam distance, ranging from strong scattering at the bow shock to weak scattering at ISEE 3.

• Research Organization: Space Science Department, European Space Agency, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
• OSTI ID: 6079314
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 88:A1; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BEAMS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
INCLINATION
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
ION BEAMS
ION DENSITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSPHERE
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND