Magnetospheric chorus - Occurrence patterns and normalized frequency
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed 400 hours of continuous broadband data obtained by the OGO 3 satellite to provide a statistically accurate description of band-limited (magnetospheric) chorus and concluded that most magnetospheric chorus consists of rising emissions which are probably generated by gyroresonant electrons slightly off the equator.
About: This article is published in Planetary and Space Science.The article was published on 1976-11-01. It has received 316 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Dawn chorus & Auroral chorus.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors derived the relativistic second-order resonance condition for a whistler-mode wave with a varying frequency and found that the seeds of chorus emissions with a rising frequency are generated near the magnetic equator as a result of a nonlinear growth mechanism that depends on the wave amplitude.
Abstract: [1] The generation process of whistler-mode chorus emissions is analyzed by both theory and simulation. Driven by an assumed strong temperature anisotropy of energetic electrons, the initial wave growth of chorus is linear. After the linear growth phase, the wave amplitude grows nonlinearly. It is found that the seeds of chorus emissions with rising frequency are generated near the magnetic equator as a result of a nonlinear growth mechanism that depends on the wave amplitude. We derive the relativistic second-order resonance condition for a whistler-mode wave with a varying frequency. Wave trapping of resonant electrons near the equator results in the formation of an electromagnetic electron hole in the wave phase space. For a specific wave phase variation, corresponding to a rising frequency, the electron hole can form a resonant current that causes growth of a wave with a rising frequency. Seeds of chorus elements grow from the saturation level of the whistler-mode instability at the equator and then propagate away from the equator. In the frame of reference moving with the group velocity, the wave frequency is constant. The wave amplitude is amplified by the nonlinear resonant current, which is sustained by the increasing inhomogeneity of the dipole magnetic field over some distance from the equator. Chorus elements are generated successively at the equator so long as a sufficient flux of energetic electrons with a strong temperature anisotropy is present.
485 citations
Additional excerpts
...There have been extensive observations of magnetospheric chorus waves [e.g., see Helliwell, 1965; Tsurutani and Smith, 1974; Burtis and Helliwell, 1976; Anderson and Kurth, 1989; Sazhin and Hayakawa, 1992; Lauben et al., 1998; Meredith et al., 2001; Santolik et al., 2003, 2004, 2005; Kasahara et al., 2005; Chum et al., 2007, and references therein]....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used bounce-averaged quasi-linear diffusion coefficients for field-aligned waves with a Gaussian frequency spectrum in a dipole magnetic field to evaluate timescales for electron momentum diffusion and pitch angle diffusion, and confirmed that chorus diffusion is a viable mechanism for generating relativistic (MeV) electrons in the outer zone during the recovery phase of a storm or during periods of prolonged substorm activity when chorus amplitudes are enhanced.
Abstract: Outer zone radiation belt electrons can undergo gyroresonant interaction with various magnetospheric wave modes including whistler-mode chorus outside the plasmasphere and both whistler-mode hiss and electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves inside the plasmasphere. To evaluate timescales for electron momentum diffusion and pitch angle diffusion, we utilize bounce-averaged quasi-linear diffusion coefficients for field-aligned waves with a Gaussian frequency spectrum in a dipole magnetic field. Timescales for momentum diffusion of MeV electrons due to VLF chorus can be less than a day in the outer radiation belt. Equatorial chorus waves (|λw| < 15 deg) can effectively accelerate MeV electrons. Efficiency of the chorus acceleration mechanism is increased if high-latitude waves (|λw| < 15 deg) are also present. Our calculations confirm that chorus diffusion is a viable mechanism for generating relativistic (MeV) electrons in the outer zone during the recovery phase of a storm or during periods of prolonged substorm activity when chorus amplitudes are enhanced. Radiation belt electrons are subject to precipitation loss to the atmosphere due to resonant pitch angle scattering by plasma waves. The electron precipitation loss timescale due to scattering by each of the wave modes, chorus, hiss, and EMIC waves, can be 1 day or less. These wave modes can separately, or in combination, contribute significantly to the depletion of relativistic (MeV) electrons from the outer zone over the course of a magnetic storm. Efficient pitch angle scattering by whistler-mode chorus or hiss typically requires high latitude waves (|λw| < 30 deg). Timescales for electron acceleration and loss generally depend on the spectral properties of the waves, as well as the background electron number density and magnetic field. Loss timescales due to EMIC wave scattering also depend on the ion (H+, He+, O+) composition of the plasma. Complete models of radiation belt electron transport, acceleration and loss should include, in addition to radial (cross-L) diffusion, resonant diffusion due to gyroresonance with VLF chorus, plasmaspheric hiss, and EMIC waves. Comprehensive observational data on the spectral properties of these waves are required as a function of spatial location (L, MLT, MLAT) and magnetic activity.
413 citations
Cites background from "Magnetospheric chorus - Occurrence ..."
...VLF chorus occurs in two frequency bands, a lower band (0.1–0.5 jWej) and an upper band (0.5–1.0 jWej) [Burtis and Helliwell, 1976; Meredith et al., 2001]....
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TL;DR: It is shown that a different wave type called chorus, previously thought to be unrelated to hiss, can propagate into the plasmasphere from tens of thousands of kilometres away, and evolve into hiss.
Abstract: Plasmaspheric hiss is a type of electromagnetic wave found ubiquitously in the dense plasma region that encircles the Earth, known as the plasmasphere. This important wave is known to remove the high-energy electrons that are trapped along the Earth's magnetic field lines, and therefore helps to reduce the radiation hazards to satellites and humans in space. Numerous theories to explain the origin of hiss have been proposed over the past four decades, but none have been able to account fully for its observed properties. Here we show that a different wave type called chorus, previously thought to be unrelated to hiss, can propagate into the plasmasphere from tens of thousands of kilometres away, and evolve into hiss. Our new model naturally accounts for the observed frequency band of hiss, its incoherent nature, its day-night asymmetry in intensity, its association with solar activity and its spatial distribution. The connection between chorus and hiss is very interesting because chorus is instrumental in the formation of high-energy electrons outside the plasmasphere, whereas hiss depletes these electrons at lower equatorial altitudes.
337 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a nonlinear cyclotron resonance wave-particle interaction in the magnetosphere with attention to the pitch angle scattering of energetic electrons by coherent VLF whistler mode signals is made.
Abstract: A study is made of nonlinear cyclotron resonance wave-particle interaction in the magnetosphere with attention to the pitch angle scattering of energetic electrons by coherent VLF whistler mode signals. A computer simulation of the full nonlinear equations of motions for energetic particles interacting with a longitudinal whistler mode wave in an inhomogeneous magnetosphere are used. The results are compared to those of a linear theory. Test electrons distributed in energy and pitch angle are used to simulate the full distribution of particles. The scattering of the test particles and their integration over energy and pitch angle yield the precipitated flux. The results suggest that coherent VLF waves significantly influence the dynamics and lifetimes of energetic electrons trapped in the magnetosphere and magnetic shells illuminated by the waves.
248 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a correlation between observations of relativistic electron microbursts and VLF chorus with frequencies <2 kHz was shown, and the duration of the individual rising frequency chorus elements is comparable to the length of the electron microburst.
Abstract: The Solar, Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) satellite frequently observes relativistic (> 1 MeV) electron precipitation in the radiation belts at L shells of 4–6 with bursty temporal structure lasting < 1 s. This phenomenon can occur at all local times but is most often seen between 0200 and 1000 magnetic local time. VLF chorus is also observed to occur preferentially at these same local times. Using electron observations from the SAMPEX satellite Heavy Ion Large Telescope and data from the Polar satellite plasma wave instrument, we show correlation between observations of relativistic electron microbursts and VLF chorus with frequencies <2 kHz. In addition, the duration of the individual rising frequency chorus elements is comparable to the duration of the relativistic electron microbursts. It has been speculated that relativistic electron microbursts are caused by wave-particle interactions, which strongly scatter electrons into the loss cone for a short period. Lower-energy electron microbursts in the range from tens to hundreds of keV have long been associated with chorus waves, since these lower-energy electrons can resonate at the equator with whistler-mode waves at chorus frequencies. Electrons of MeV energies do not satisfy the first-order cyclotron resonance condition with chorus wave frequencies at the equator. However, MeV electrons may interact with chorus through higher-order resonances or off-equatorial interactions.
236 citations
References
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TL;DR: The limit on stably trapped particle fluxes determined theoretically and compared with data from Explorer satellites was first established in this paper, and the limit was later confirmed by the International Journal of Astronautics.
Abstract: Limit on stably trapped particle fluxes determined theoretically and compared with data from Explorer satellites
2,706 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the nature and origin of whistlers, which are sometimes observed at frequencies below 15 kc/s and were found to follow the lines of force of the earth's magnetic field.
Abstract: The paper, which is in two parts, describes an investigation of the nature and origin of the 'whistling atmospherics' or 'whistlers' which are sometimes observed at frequencies below 15 kc/s. The first part describes an experimental study of their properties, in the course of which a considerable number of whistlers were recorded and analyzed, and the law of the variation of their frequency with time determined. Some whistlers are heard to follow impulsive atmospherics, and these are found to be produced in the normal way by lightning strokes taking place within a distance of about 2000 km. Other whistlers are unaccompanied by atmospherics; they differ from the former type in several further respects. The diurnal and annual variations of the properties of both types of whistler have also been studied. In the second part of the paper a theory of the origin of the whistling atmospherics, originally due to Barkhausen (1930) and Eckersley (1935), is developed in detail. The theory proposes that they are due to waves which originate in normal impulsive atmospherics and travel through the outer ionosphere, following the lines of force of the earth's magnetic field and crossing over the equator at a great height. During their journey they become dispersed so as to arrive as 'whistlers'. They may be reflected from the earth's surface back along the same path, one or more times, to produce whistlers with increased dispersions. The effects responsible for the guiding of the waves along the lines of the geomagnetic field provide sufficient focusing action to prevent the energy from being spread unduly. Measurements of the degree of dispersion of the whistlers have been interpreted to yield information about the density of electrons in the atmosphere at very great heights. The density required seems considerably larger than could reasonably have been expected. If the free electrons are produced by ionization of the terrestrial atmosphere its temperature in these regions must be at least 7200 degrees K. The results might alternatively be explained on the assumption that the electrons are falling in from outside, and if this were so it might account for the relationship between the occurrence of whistlers and magnetic activity.
670 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the post-midnight chorus was detected in the midnight sector of the magnetosphere in conjunction with magnetospheric substorms and the characteristics of these emissions such as their frequency time structure, emission frequency with respect to the local equatorial electron gyrofrequency, intensity-time variation, and the average intensity were investigated.
Abstract: The ELF emissions were detected in the midnight sector of the magnetosphere in conjunction with magnetospheric substorms. The emissions were observed at local midnight and early morning hours and are accordingly called 'post-midnight chorus.' The characteristics of these emissions such as their frequency time structure, emission frequency with respect to the local equatorial electron gyrofrequency, intensity-time variation, and the average intensity were investigated. The occurrence of the chorus in the nightside magnetosphere was investigated as a function of local time, L shell, magnetic latitude, and substorm activity, and the results of this analysis are presented. Specific features of postmidnight chorus are discussed in the context of possible wave-particle interactions occurring during magnetospheric substorms.
626 citations