Observations of plasma waves within regions of perpendicular ion acceleration

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL013i011p01113· OSTI ID:6838969

Kintner, P M; LaBelle, J; Scales, W; Yau, A W; Whalen, B A

The acceleration of ionospheric ions transverse to the geomagnetic field by factors of 10/sup 3/ is believed to be caused by plasma waves. We have made simultaneous measurements of electric fields (0--16kHz) and energetic ions (50eV to 20keV) within regions of perpendicular ion acceleration ion acceleration from the sounding rocket MARIE. Perpendicular ion acceleration was correlated with plasma waves near and above the lower hybrid frequency. Ions were detected up to energies of 300 eV and the broadband lower hybrid waves reached an amplitude of 10--30 mV/m (RMS) over the frequency band 4--16 kHz. Although electric field amplitudes near the 0/sup +/ cyclotron frequency reached a maximum value of 10 mV/m (RMS), there was no spectral evidence of electrostatic ion cyclotron waves associated with ion acceleration. There was spectral evidence of H/sup +/ Bernstein modes near the lower hybrid frequency. If we assume that whistler mode waves near and above the lower hybrid frequency were responsible for the ion acceleration then the conversion efficiency of wave energy to ion energy was .01 to .1.

• Research Organization: School of Electrical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
• OSTI ID: 6838969
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 13:11; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
BERNSTEIN MODE
CHARGED PARTICLES
CYCLOTRON FREQUENCY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ENERGY LEVELS
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
HYDROGEN IONS
IONOSPHERE
IONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
OSCILLATION MODES
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA WAVES
ROCKETS