Coordinated measurements of slot region electron precipitation by plasmaspheric wave bands

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA087iA06p04418· OSTI ID:7040448

Imhof, W L; Anderson, R R; Reagan, J B; Gaines, E E

It has been hypothesized by Lyons et al. that electrons in the slot region are precipitated by cyclotronn resonance interactions with the plasmaspheric whistler mode wave bands. The energy spectra and the variations with L shell of the energy bands of the precipitating electrons have been found by Imhof et al. (1974) to be consistent with cyclotron resonance by waves in the few hundred Hz to few Hz range. Now, for the first time, simultaneous measurements have been made of the precipitating electron spectra, the wave frequency distributions, and the plasma density profiles. The electron measurements were performed from the P78-1 low-altitude satellite, whereas the wave and plasma density observations were made with the plasma wave experiment on the ISEE 1 spacecraft. Broad bands are often observed in the electron energy spectra with a well-defined low-energy cutoff that decreases in energy with increasing L value in a manner consistent with that calculated for first-order cyclotron resonance with waves at the high-frequency cutoff of the band. On the basis of the electron spectra from P78-1 and the plasma densities obtained from the hybrid resonance frequencies measured on ISEE 1, the hiss cutoff frequencies are calculated for an assumed first-order cyclotron resonance interaction and compared with the wave spectral density profiles measured on ISEE. Overall, the plasma wave and the electron measurements are consistent with each other, supporting the earlier hypothesis for the precipitation mechanisms.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratories, Palo Alto, California 94304
• OSTI ID: 7040448
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 87:A6; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ENERGY SPECTRA
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETOSPHERE
NOISE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA WAVES
PLASMASPHERE
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SPECTRA
WHISTLERS