Electron phase-space holes and the VLF saucer source region

The Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST) satellite has identified new properties of VLF saucers that are important to understanding their generation and the physical processes in the source region. The most significant finding is a frequent occurrence (∼79%) of electron phase‐space holes on flux tubes of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2001-10, Vol.28 (19), p.3805-3808
Main Authors: Ergun, R. E., Carlson, C. W., McFadden, J. P., Strangeway, R. J., Goldman, M. V., Newman, D. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth, ocean, space
Electrostatic and electromagnetic waves
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Physics of the magnetosphere
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Summary:The Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST) satellite has identified new properties of VLF saucers that are important to understanding their generation and the physical processes in the source region. The most significant finding is a frequent occurrence (∼79%) of electron phase‐space holes on flux tubes of the VLF saucer source in the downward current region. This finding implies either a common energy source or a direct association between the two phenomenon. FAST observations also demonstrate that VLF saucer vertices are strongly correlated with up‐going electron fluxes associated with diverging DC electric field structures. These observations imply parallel electric fields along the source flux tube of VLF saucers.
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1029/2001GL013024