DE 1 observations of harmonic auroral kilometric radiation. Progress report

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6855949

Mellott, M M; Huff, R L; Gurnett, D A

The plasma-wave instrument on board the DE 1 spacecraft observed several intervals of auroral kilometric radiation during which harmonic structure is clearly present. Evidence is presented, some of which is based on unique capabilities of the DE instrument, which argues strongly that the harmonic structures are natural rather than instrumental in origin. The harmonic emissions occur infrequently but, when present, may persist for intervals of up to an hour. The emissions are relatively narrow-band and consist of a relatively weak fundamental (10/sup -14/ V-sq/m-sq Hz) accompanied by an even weaker second harmonic. The ratio of power in the fundamental band to the power in the harmonic ranges from 10 to 100. In all cases, polarization data indicate that the fundamental is a left-hand ordinary (L-O) mode emission, while the harmonic is right hand extraordinary (R-X) mode. These observations are consistent with predictions based on the cyclotron-maser mechanism.

• Research Organization: Iowa Univ., Iowa City (USA). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
• OSTI ID: 6855949
• Report Number(s): AD-A-176653/4/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLIFIERS
AURORAE
CYCLOTRON RESONANCE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EMISSION
EQUIPMENT
HARMONICS
LONG WAVE RADIATION
MASERS
MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
OSCILLATIONS
PLASMA WAVES
POLARIZATION
POWER
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RESONANCE