FAST observations of VLF waves in the auroral zone: Evidence of very low plasma densities

The Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST) explorer frequently observes the auroral density cavity, which is the source region for Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR). An important factor in the generation of AKR is the relative abundance of hot and cold electrons within the cavity, since hot electrons introdu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 1998-06, Vol.25 (12), p.2065-2068
Main Authors: Strangeway, R. J., Kepko, L., Elphic, R. C., Carlson, C. W., Ergun, R. E., McFadden, J. P., Peria, W. J., Delory, G. T., Chaston, C. C., Temerin, M., Cattell, C. A., Möbius, E., Kistler, L. M., Klumpar, D. M., Peterson, W. K., Shelley, E. G., Pfaff, R. F.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST) explorer frequently observes the auroral density cavity, which is the source region for Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR). An important factor in the generation of AKR is the relative abundance of hot and cold electrons within the cavity, since hot electrons introduce relativistic modifications to the wave dispersion. VLF wave‐form data acquired by FAST within the auroral density cavity show clear signatures of whistler‐mode waves propagating on the resonance cone. This allows us to obtain the electron plasma frequency, and the cavity often has densities
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1029/98GL00664