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

Technical Report · Mon Feb 12 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6719629

Koons, H C

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 (L = McIlwain's parameter). This indicates that these density enhancements are acting as whistler-mode wave ducts. The wave and density observations were made simultaneously by The Aerospace Corporation swept frequency receiver (SFR) aboard the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorer (AMPTE) ion release module (IRM) spacecraft. The plasma density is determined from a narrowband line near the plasma frequency. The hiss emissions generally occur below 2 kHz. The ducts consist of density enhancements of more than 40%. Density gradients on the sides of ducts range from 0.10 to 0.24 electrons per cubic centimeter per kilometer. The half width of each duct is typically 250 km. The wave intensity maximizes about 15 km 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.

• Research Organization: Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA (USA). Space Sciences Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6719629
• Report Number(s): AD-A-219981/8/XAB; TR--0089(4940-06)-5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLITUDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
DENSITY
DOCUMENT TYPES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
EMISSION
IONS
MODULAR STRUCTURES
NOISE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA WAVES
PLASMASPHERE
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SATELLITES
SPACE VEHICLES
VEHICLES
WHISTLERS