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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

On Jupiter's whistler emission

A theory explaining Jupiter's banded whistler emission, in particular low-frequency hiss and chorus, is proposed. It is shown that superthermal electrons described by a kappa distribution function cause whistler instability below one-third of the electron gyrofrequency, whereas a two temperature Maxwellian leads to a band of unstable growing modes just below one-half of the electron gyrofrequency. A superposition of both yields almost exactly the structure of whistler mode hiss and chorus detected by the Voyager 1 and 2 plasma wave instrument.

Leubner, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Temporal evolution of whistler growth in a cold plasma injection experiment

The evolution of whistler mode turbulence and particle participation in a cold plasma release are studied experimentally as part of the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracers Explorer (AMPTE) program. The investigation used a simple time dependent cold plasma density model, and an atypical ambient radiation belt was assumed. It is shown that a cold lithium injection in the AMPTE parameter range can give rise to whistler mode turbulence with significant gain to the wave amplitude in a single pass through a flux tube. Whistler mode growth results in the pitch angle diffusion of energetic electrons, which are in turn precipitated. The rate of power input into the ionosphere from these precipitating electrons is roughly estimated at 2 ergs per sq cm/s. It is found that this value of the precipitated power is large enough to continue producing a visible aurora until the injected plasma in the flux tube is lost or destroyed by magnetospheric convection or other processes.

Ganguli, G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The propagation and growth of whistler mode waves generated by electron beams in earth's bow shock

In this study, the propagation and growth of whistler mode waves generated by electron beams within earth's bow shock is investigated using a planar model for the bow shock and a model electron distribution function. Within the shock, the model electron distribution function possesses a field-aligned T greater than T beam that is directed toward the magnetosheath. Waves with frequencies between about 1 and 100 Hz with a wide range of wave normal angles are generated by the beam via Landau and anomalous cyclotron resonances. However, because the growth rate is small and because the wave packets traverse the shock quickly, these waves do not attain large amplitudes. Waves with frequencies between about 30 and 150 Hz with a wide range of wave normal angles are generated by the beam via the normal cyclotron resonance. The ray paths for most of these waves are directed toward the solar wind although some wave packets, due to plasma convection travel transverse to the shock normal. These wave packets grow to large amplitudes because they spend a long time in the growth region. The results suggest that whistler mode noise within the shock should increase in amplitude with increasing upstream theta sub Bn. The study provides an explanation for the origin of much of the whistler mode turbulence observed at the bow shock.

Tokar, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The whistler mode in a Vlasov plasma

In this study, properties of small-amplitude parallel and oblique whistler-mode waves are investigated for a wide range of plasma parameters by numerically solving the full electromagnetic Vlasov-dispersion equation. To investigate the cold-plasma and electrostatic approximations for the whistler mode, the results are compared with results obtained using these descriptions. For large wavelengths, the cold-plasma description is often accurate, while for short wavelengths and sufficiently oblique propagation, the electrostatic description is often accurate. The study demonstrates that in a Vlasov plasma the whistler mode near resonance has a group velocity more nearly parallel to the magnetic field than that predicted by cold-plasma theory.

Tokar, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Subionospheric VLF/LF phase perturbations produced by lightning-whistler induced particle precipitation

Rapid phase perturbations of subionospherically propagating VLF/LF signals are associated with lightning-generated whistlers which propagate in the magnetosphere. The perturbations, called 'Trimpi events' or 'Trimpi effects' after their discoverer, are attributed to alterations in the earth-ionosphere waveguide caused by localized enhancements in the ionospheric D region. These enhancements are produced by bursts of high-energy electrons which are precipitated out of the earth's radiation belts by the whistler waves. The present paper has the objective to present and discuss new evidence of whistler-associated phase perturbations of subionospheric signals. Events of this type, called phase Trimpi's were first reported by Lohrey and Kaiser (1979). Attention is given to occurrence statistics in terms of the seasonal distribution and hourly rate of events, possible effects on global VLF/LF navigation, and an interpretive model.

Inan, U. S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Some properties of trans-equatorial ion whistlers observed by Isis satellites during geomagnetic storms

Several ion whistlers were observed by the polar orbiting satellites, Isis, during geomagnetic storms associated with large solar flares in 1982. It seems that the proton density ratio to the total ions deduced from the crossover frequency of the transequatorial ion whistlers observed at geomagnetic low latitudes during the main phase of the geomagnetic storm on July 14, 1982 was lower than the usual density ratio. An anomalous pattern seen on the time-compressed dynamic spectra of the ion whistlers on September 6, 1982 may suggest the existence of effects by the component He(3+) in a quite small amount.

Watanabe, S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Distribution of whistler mode bursts at Venus

Several thousand impulsive whistler mode noise bursts were detected by the Pioneer Venus wave instrument during the first 10 seasons with nightside traversals at low altitudes. The altitude distribution for these events shows that essentially all of the bursts were detected when the orbiter was less than 2000 km above the planet, suggesting that the varying plasma conditions could not maintain coherent whistler mode field-aligned guidance over greater distances. Within the 2000-km range, the distribution of the number of events versus altitude shows that there are two distinct subregions. These results are interpreted in terms of two types of whistler mode propagation from sources below the ionosphere.

Scarf, F. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Whistler mode emissions in the Uranian radiation belts

Voyager 2 detected intense whistler mode emissions and fluxes of energetic electrons during the outbound pass through the region of auroral L shells. The observed energetic (E greater than 22 keV) electron distribution, a model warm (E less than 27.5 keV) electron distribution, and the cold plasma density profile deduced by Kurth et al. (1987) are used to calculate the ray path-integrated spatial amplification of whistlers which arrive at Voyager 2 from the magnetic equator. By matching the calculated amplification and the relative gains at different frequencies deduced from the observed whistler power spectrum, the pitch angle anisotropy parameters of the electron distributions are determined to within a fairly narrow range of values. The estimated bounce average pitch angle diffusion coefficient indicates that electrons are on strong diffusion over a wide range in energies. The electron precipitation energy flux is sufficient to produce the observed auroral light emissions.

Coroniti, F. V.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Whistler-triggered emissions observed by ISIS satellites

A statistical examination has been conducted of the ducted and nonducted whistler-triggered emissions (WTEs) observed by the ISIS satellites in the 1979-1981 period. Most WTEs are observed with simultaneous lower hybrid resonance in the topside ionosphere. The VLF emissions triggered by ducted whistlers frequently occur at L of 2-3, while those triggered by nonducted whistlers occur in the wider latitudinal regions at L of 2.2-4.3.

Nakamura, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Parametric excitation of whistler waves by HF heater

Possible generation of whistler waves by Tromso HF heater is investigated. It is shown that the HF heater wave can parametrically decay into a whistler wave and a Langmuir wave. Since whistler waves may have a broad range of frequency, the simultaneously excited Langmuir waves can have a much broader frequency bandwidth than those excited by the parametric decay instability.

Kuo, S. P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

An assessment of lightning or in situ instabilities as a source for whistler mode waves in the night ionosphere of Venus

Low-altitude data acquired on orbits 484-526 of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter are used to assess the most probable source of whistler mode waves in the nightside ionosphere of Venus. The effect of electron temperature on whistler mode propagation is discussed, with particular emphasis on the growth rate of gyroresonant instabilities. The wave intensity as observed with the Pioneer Venus Orbiter electric field detector is compared with various plasma parameters to determine if it is likely that the waves are generated by an in situ instability. It is shown that gyroresonant whistler mode instabilities do not explain the Pioneer Venus wave data. It is demonstrated that the magnetic field strength controls the wave intensity, rather than density, and it is concluded that the electron Beta(e) is the primary factor in the occurrence of the 100-Hz waves detected in the nightside ionosphere of Venus. The present analysis supports the interpretation that these waves are due to lightning in the Venus atmosphere.

Strangeway, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Self-focusing of whistler waves

The theory of axially symmetric self-focusing of whistler waves, based on the full system of Maxwell equations, is developed. The plasma is described by the magnetohydrodynamic equations including the ponderomotive force from RF field. The nonlinear Schrodinger equations (NSE) for arbitrary azimuthal modes of whistler waves are derived. It is shown that they differ from the NSE for a scalar field; this is connected with an intrinsic angular momentum due to the rotating polarization of whistlers. It is shown that the self-focusing, as described by the NSE, differs in its final stage from the results following the full set of Maxwell equations. The latter gives defocusing after sufficient narrowing of the initial wave beam, due to transformation of the trapped wave into a nontrapped branch which is not contained in the NSE description. The oscillatory character of the defocusing is demonstrated.

Karpman, V. I.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Transport of time-varying plasma currents by whistler wave packets

The relationship between pulsed currents and electromagnetic waves is examined in a regime characterized by electron MHD. Pulsed currents are generated by (1) collection/emission of charged particles by/from biased electrodes and (2) induction of currents by time-varying and moving magnetic fields. Pulsed currents are observed to propagate at the speed of whistler wave packets. Their field structure forms ropelike configurations which are electromagnetically force-free. Moving sources induce 'eddy' currents which excite waves and form Cerenkov-like whistler 'wings'. The radiation patterns of moving magnetic antennas and electrodynamic tethers are investigated. Nonlinear effects of large-amplitude, antenna-launched whistler pulses are observed. These involve a new modulational instability in which a channel of high conductivity which permits the wave/currents to penetrate deeply into a collisional plasma is formed.

Stenzel, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The role of ducted whistlers in the precipitation loss and equilibrium flux of radiation belt electrons

Evidence is presented for a close association betwen individual whistler ducts and conjugate ionospheric disturbances sensed by the perturbation of subionospheric VLF, LF, and MF signals. It is found that even the weakest whistlers can be associated with ionospheric disturbances in both hemispheres. A case study has shown that slow-onset and 'overshoot' perturbation signatures to be consistent with multiple ionospheric disturbances that are associated with individual components of multipath-ducted whistlers.

Burgess, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Propagation of whistler waves driven by fine structured ion beams in the magnetotail

In a previous paper, which examined the propagation of low-frequency whistler waves generated by ion beams in the Earth's plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL), it was found that whistler waves driven in the PSBL are focused toward the central plasma sheet due to the global magnetotail inhomogeneities; this finding may help explain the observations of magnetic noise bursts in the tail (Burinskaya et al., 1993). In this paper the same phenomenon is examined, but this time a much more realistic model is used for the ion beam in the PSBL. While the PSBL has been modeled as a solid, homogeneous ion beams with a width of one Earth radius, observations and theoretical considerations have shown that PSBL ion beams actually have a decreasing velocity profile toward the plasma sheet and that the density of the beams within the PSBL can vary locally. We consider again the propagation and generation of electromagnetic waves but in the presence of fine structured ion beams in the PSBL. Our results show that whistler waves, generated quasi-parallel to the background magnetic field, can be trapped locally within small spatial regions where the ion beam density is enhanced compared to the density of the adjacent PSBL region. Wave spectra and nonlinear saturation mechanisms are discussed.

Burinskaya, T.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Hybrid simulations of whistler waves generation and current closure by a pulsed tether in the ionosphere

The dynamic response of a magnetized collisionless plasma to an externally driven, finite size, sudden switch-on current source across the magnetic field has been studied using a two dimensional hybrid code. It was found that the predominant plasma response was the excitation of whistler waves and the formation of current closure by induced currents in the plasma. The results show that the current closure path consists of: (a) two antiparallel field-aligned current channels at the end of the imposed current sheet; and (b) a cross-field current region connecting these channels. The formation of the current closure path occured in the whistler timescale much shorter than that of MHD and the closure region expanded continuously in time. The current closure process was accompanied by significant energy loss due to whistler radiation.

Chang, C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Electron beam excitation of upstream waves in the whistler mode frequency range

We examine whistler mode instabilities arising from electron beams in interplanetary space at 1 AU. Both parallel and obliquely propagating solutions are considered. We demonstrate that the generation of two simultaneous whistler mode waves is possible, and even reasonably likely, for beam parameters frequently encountered upstream of the Earth's bow shock and at interplanetary shocks. We also explore the generation of left-hand polarized waves at whistler mode frequencies under these same conditions. We offer both parametric variations derived from numerical solutions of the various instabilities as well as an analytical treatment of the problem which succeeds in unifying the various numerical results.

Wong, Hung K.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Whistler mode waves in the Jovian magnetosheath

During the Ulysses flyby of Jupiter in February 1992, the spacecraft traversed the Jovian magnetosheath for a few hours during the inbound pass and for aa few days during the outbound pass. Burstlike electomagnetic waves at frequencies of approximately 0.1-0.4 of the local electron cyclotron frequency have been observed by the Unified Radio and Plasma Wave (URAP) experiement. The waves were more often observed in the regions which were probably the outer or the middle magnetosheath, especially near the bow shock, and rarely seen in the magnetosphere/magnetosheath boundary layer. The propagation angles of the waves are estimated by comparing the measurements of the wave electric and magnetic fields in the spacecraft spin plane with the corresponding values calculated using the cold plasma dispersion relation under local field and plasma conditions. It is found that the waves propagate obliquely with wave angles between approximately 30 deg and 50 deg. These waves are likely to be the whistler mode waves which are excited by suprathermal electrons with a few hundred eV and a slight anisotropy (T(sub perp)/T(sub parallel) approximately 1.1-1.5). They are probably similar in nature to the lion roars observed in the Earth's magnetosheath. Signature of coupling between the mirror and the whistler mode have also been observed. The plasma conditions which favor the excitation of the whistler mode instability during the wave events exists as observed by the plasma experiement of Ulysses.

Lin, Naiguo↗