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At least 595 records · Page 33
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NASA NTRS1982

Magnetic field rotation through the magnetopause - ISEE 1 and 2 observations

ISEE 1 and 2 magnetic field data obtained during dayside magnetopause crossings are analyzed using a minimum variance technique in order to determine the characteristics of the rotation of the magnetic field across the magnetopause. Only a small fraction of the magnetopause crossings examined present a sufficiently coherent structure that they can be compared with theoretical predictions and only a few of the hodograms of the magnetic field at the crossings display the ideal rotation expected for a rotational discontinuity structure. It is found that the observed senses of rotation are not consistent with the predictions of the electron whistler polarization theory. Rotations exceeding 180 deg are very seldom observed; they usually occur across multiple crossings, either as 360 deg rotation about the minimum variance direction or, occasionally, in more complicated patterns associated with S-shaped hodograms. These observations are seen as indicating that the sense of the magnetic field rotation through the magnetopause is controlled by the relative orientation of the magnetosheath and the magnetospheric field and that the angular rotation is minimized when the magnetic field changes from one orientation to the other.

Berchem, J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Nonlinear longitudinal resonance interaction of energetic charged particles and VLF waves in the magnetosphere

The longitudinal resonance of waves and energetic electrons in the Earth's magnetosphere, and the possible role this resonance may play in generating various magnetospheric phenomena are studied. The derivation of time-averaged nonlinear equations of motion for energetic particles longitudinally resonant with a whistler mode wave propagating with nonzero wave normal is considered. It is shown that the wave magnetic forces can be neglected at lower particle pitch angles, while they become equal to or larger than the wave electric forces for alpha 20 deg. The time-averaged equations of motion were used in test particle simulation which were done for a wide range of wave amplitudes, wave normals, particle pitch angles, particle parallel velocities, and in an inhomogeneous medium such as the magnetosphere. It was found that there are two classes of particles, trapped and untrapped, and that the scattering and energy exchange for those two groups exhibit significantly different behavior.

Tkalcevic, S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Quasi-relativistic electron precipitation due to interactions with coherent VLF waves in the magnetosphere

The equations of motion for the cyclotron resonance interaction between coherent whistler mode waves and energetic particles are rederived with the inclusion of relativistic effects. The pitch angle scattering of the near-loss-cone quasi-relativistic electrons trapped in the magnetosphere is studied using a test particle method employing these relativistic equations, and the precipitated energy spectrum due to the wave-induced perturbations of a full distribution of particles is computed. Results show that the full width at half maximum peak width of the rms scattering pattern of the near-loss-cone particles would give an upper bound to the peak width of the associated precipitated energy spectrum under the conditions of moderate wave intensities in the low L shell region. In addition, it is found that the peak widths are within the upper limit values measured by recent satellite experiments. It is concluded that interactions of inner radiation belt particles with monochromatic waves could produce precipitated fluxes with relatively sharp spectral widths, and that therefore the L-dependent narrow peaks observed by low altitude satellite particle detectors could be caused by such interactions.

Chang, H. C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Lightning activity on Jupiter

Photographic observations of the nightside of Jupiter by the Voyager 1 spacecraft show the presence of extensive lightning activity. Detection of whistlers by the plasma wave analyzer confirms the optical observations and implies that many flashes were not recorded by the Voyager camera because the intensity of the flashes was below the threshold sensitivity of the camera. Measurements of the optical energy radiated per flash indicate that the observed flashes had energies similar to that for terrestrial superbolts. The best estimate of the lightning energy dissipation rate of 0.0004 W/sq m was derived from a consideration of the optical and radiofrequency measurements. The ratio of the energy dissipated by lightning compared to the convective energy flux is estimated to be between 0.000027 and 0.00005. The terrestrial value is 0.0001.

Borucki, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Plasma waves in the Jovian magnetosphere

Any waves which are influenced by the presence of a plasma are called plasma waves. In general, plasma waves can be classified as either electromagnetic, which have both electric and magnetic fields, or electrostatic, which have no magnetic field. The recent Voyager encounters provide the basis for the first comprehensive investigation of plasma waves in the magnetosphere of Jupiter. The most striking feature of the Jovian plasma-wave observations is the very close similarity to the plasma-wave phenomena observed in the earth's magnetosphere. In a description of the plasma-wave results obtained with the aid of Voyager, the observed phenomena are discussed in several broad categories. Attention is given to the upstream waves and the bow shock, the trapped continuum radiation, upper hybrid and electron cyclotron waves, whistler-mode waves, and broadband electrostatic noise.

Gurnett, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The plasmaspheric electric field as measured by ISEE 1

The electrodynamics of the plasmasphere has been a topic of considerable interest. Models predict a space charge buildup, or Alfven layer, at the inner edge of the ring current which opposes the dawn-dusk convection electric field in the magnetosphere and thus shields the plasmasphere from the convection electric field. The current study has the objective to present data from the ISEE 1 double cylindrical probe instrument. All measurements reported were made in the plasmasphere with electron densities of the order of 30-50 or greater per cu cm. The average electric field pattern for quiet conditions is found to be qualitatively consistent with previous average results from whistler measurements and radar backscattering measurements. The magnitudes and gross patterns are in qualitative agreement with representative ionospheric dynamo models. The basic convective flow vectors from the penetration of the magnetospheric electric field tend to follow contours which are parallel to those of the average plasmapause boundary on the nightside.

Maynard, N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A kinetic cross-field streaming instability

In a high-beta plasma the so-called modified-two-stream instability, which results from strongly magnetized electrons drifting relative to unmagnetized ions across a homogeneous magnetic field, is misnamed because the mode is highly kinetic, particularly when the relative streaming velocity exceeds the Alfven speed of the plasma. This kinetic cross-field streaming instability is investigated in detail, examining the effect of the electromagnetic terms and the stability boundaries in both low- and high-beta plasmas. An approximate dispersion relation showing the relation of this mode to the whistler is derived and solutions of it are compared with those obtained from the exact dispersion relation. The kinetic mode, unlike the usual modified-two-stream instability, is not stabilized by electromagnetic effects when the relative electron-ion drift speed exceeds the Alfven speed.

Wu, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Collisionless dissipation processes in quasi-parallel shocks

The evolution of collisionless, quasi-parallel shocks (the angle between the shock normal and the upstream magnetic field being less than 45 deg) is examined using two dimensional particle simulations. Reflected ions upstream from the shock are observed with average guiding center velocity and gyrational energy which agree well with the prediction of simple specular reflection. Strong ion heating through the shock ramp is apparently caused by large amplitude whistler turbulence. A flux of suprathermal electrons is also the magnetic field direction. Much stronger ion heating occurs in the shock than electron heating. The relevance of this work to the earth's bow shock is discussed.

Quest, K. B.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Computer simulation of auroral kilometric radiation

An investigation is carried out of the linear amplification and nonlinear saturation of electromagnetic waves associated with two components of electrons consisting of a cold Maxwellian background and a weakly relativistic population of electrons possessing a loss-cone distribution. The goal is to understand the mechanism responsible for the production of auroral kilometric radiation (AKR). A relativistic 1-2/2 dimensional electromagnetic particle simulation code is used in studying an initial value problem modeling the AKR source region. The simulation makes it possible to follow the growth of all modes of radiation, including the ordinary mode (O-mode), slow extraordinary mode (Z-mode), whistler mode and fast extraordinary mode (X-mode), past the point of saturation.

Wagner, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Turbulence analysis of the Jovian upstream 'wave' phenomenon

As Voyager 2 approached Jupiter's bow shock, large-amplitude fluctuations were seen in both the magnetic field and plasma fluid velocity. These fluctuations generally coincided with the occurrence of long-lived energetic particle events similar to the upstream waves often observed near the earth's bow shock. In this paper an analysis of the magnetic field and plasma observations using spectral methods is presented. The characteristic spectral features related to the upstream waves are generally seen near 1 mHz. The measured correlation lengths of these fluctuations suggest that they are coherent over only a few wavelengths. The analysis is consistent with the hypothesis that these fluctuations are driven by streaming ions, possibly protons. No evidence for the existence of whistler waves is found. It is argued that some of the observed spectral features suggest that dynamical turbulent processes are occurring in the uptream wave region, including a possible observation of an inverse cascade of magnetic helicity to large spatial scales.

Smith, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Waves observed upstream of interplanetary shocks

The properties of the waves that are present upstream of interplanetary, collisionless, quasi-parallel shocks are described. Two types of such waves have been detected, a higher frequency whistler mode wave and a lower frequency fast mode MHD wave. Both are typically circular or elliptically polarized right-hand waves which propagate along the ambient magnetic field with a 15 deg angle cone. The high frequency waves have sufficient group velocities to outrun the shock, and may be generated by cyclotron resonance with 100 eV to 1 keV shock electrons. The lower frequency waves must be generated locally by particles upstream of the shock, probably by 1-10 keV ions flowing away from the shock. Distinct changes in the spectra of upstream waves as a function of distance from the shock have been noted.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Generation of Alfven-ion cyclotron waves on auroral field lines in the presence of heavy ions

Observation of electromagnetic waves in the low-altitude auroral zone at frequencies between the proton and helium gyrofrequencies suggests that Alfven-ion cyclotron waves modified by the presence of helium ions are being excited. Estimates of the growth rates for this mode indicate that the auroral electron beam can provide the free energy for the instability. The effect of the heavy ions is to decrease the group velocity of the waves, leading to larger convective growth. Theoretical wave spectra are computed in the local approximation, which assumes that the gradient scale lengths in density and magnetic field are constant over the ray paths. Narrow banded spectral peaks similar to observations may be produced when the thickness of the electron beam is small (200 m at 3000 km altitude). Narrow beams also limit growth of whistler mode waves, which compete for the free energy of the electron beam.

Lysak, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Electromagnetic lower hybrid waves in the solar wind

An analysis of electromagnetic lower hybrid waves or hybrid whistlers that propagate nearly perpendicular to the magnetic field lines in the solar wind is described. Doppler-shifted, these waves have a broadband nature when observed in the spacecraft frame depending on the direction of propagation and the supersonic flow velocity of the wind. Lower hybrid waves can energize ions normal to the interplanetary magnetic field. They may occasionaly be responsible for the observed temperature anisotropy in high speed streams and possibly for the acceleration of heavier ions such as the oxygen ions, alpha particles, etc. These modes are probably driven unstable by the anisotropic halos of the solar wind electron distributions exhibiting 'heat flux' profiles.

Marsch, E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Characteristics of low-energy plasma in the plasmasphere and plasma trough

Initial results of studies of low-energy plasma using the light ion mass spectrometer (LIMS) on the SCATHA satellite are presented. Results are discussed primarily for plasma flux in the noon to midnight local time sector, examining the behavior of the plasma with geomagnetic activity and local time. Measurements of the ion mass composition in this region for the energy ranges of the LIMS instrument are presented. Results of temperature measurements are given and a possible explanation for the difference between the whistler and OGO 5 plasmapause positions is suggested. The observed pitch angle distributions are presented, limited to a broad characterization of the plasma population. The effects of the spacecraft potential on the low-energy plasma measurements are considered.

Reasoner, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A theoretical study of plasmaspheric hiss generation

An investigation of the generation of plasmaspheric hiss by the whistler mode instability has been carried out. Using combined ray-tracing and growth rate calculations, the path-integrated growth rates of a large number of waves have been calculated using a distribution function. In general, the waves damp out before being magnetospherically reflected, or soon after. This is true of all the waves traced, independent of the distribution functions used for the energetic (resonant) electrons. Thus the growth rates are generally low, since the waves undergo few equatorial transits. A comparison of these results with observed spectra indicates that while some spectral characteristics are in qualitative agreement, there is a major discrepancy in the intensity levels.

Huang, C. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Multiple spacecraft observations of interplanetary shocks: Characteristics of the upstream ULF turbulence

All interplanetary shocks observed by ISEE-3 and either ISEE-1 or ISEE-2 or both in 1978 and 1979 are examined for evidence of upstream waves. In order to characterize the properties of these shocks it is necessary to determine accurate shock normals. An overdetermined set of equations were inverted to obtain shock normals, velocities and error estimates for all these shocks. Tests of the method indicate it is quite reliable. Using these normals the Mach number and angle were between the interplanetary magnetic field and the shock normal for each shock. The upstream waves were separated into two classes: whistler mode precursors which occur at low Mach numbers and upstream turbulence whose amplitude at Mach numbers greater than 1.5 is controlled by the angle of the field to the shock normal. The former waves are right hand circularly polarized and quite monochromatic. The latter waves are more linearly polarized and have a broadband featureless spectrum.

Russell, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

VLF wave injections from the ground

Experiments on wave-particle interactions using VLF whistler-mode waves injected into the magnetosphere from Antartica are described. The injected signals are single-frequency coherent waves whose amplitudes and frequencies may be changed slowly with time, or else two or more coherent wave trains transmitted simultaneously to determine the nature of the response to multifrequency excitation. The waves may be amplified 30 dB or more and may trigger intense emissions having bandwidths that vary from a few to several hundred Hertz. In most cases significant growth and triggering occur only when the driving signal is essentially monochromatic (bandwidth 10 Hz). If two frequencies are transmitted simultaneously the signal at the lower frequency tends to be suppressed by 20 dB or more. These results are interpreted in terms of a feedback interaction between the waves and counter-streaming cyclotron resonant electrons in a region several hundred wavelengths long, centered on the magnetic equator.

Helliwell, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Auroral kilometric radiation: Wave modes, harmonic and source region electron density structures

A change from extraordinary (X) mode to ordinary (0) mode dominance is observed in the auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) detected on ISIS 1 topside sounder ionograms as the source region plasma to gyrofrequency ratio fN/fH varies from 0.1 to 1.3. The X and 0 mode AKR, Z (the slow branch of the X mode) and whistler (W) mode are also observed. The Z mode is typically slightly less intense than the 0-mode. Thw W-mode is confined to frequencies less than fH/2, suggesting that it is the result of field aligned ducted signals reaching the satellite from a source at lower altitudes. Harmonic AKR bands are commonly observed and the 2nd harmonic appears to be due to propagating signals. The deduced (fN/fH) at the bottom of the AKR source region is always less than 0.4 and is typically less than 0.2 during the generation of X-mode AKR, but approaches 0.9 for 0-mode AKR. No large density enhancements were observed within AKR source region density cavities. It is suggested that the observed INTENSE AKR IS cyclotron X-mode radiation rather than plasma frequency 0-mode radiation.

Benson, R. F.↗