ION CYCLOTRON WHISTLERS.
Abstract
An experimental study of the proton-whistler, a new VLF phenomenon observed in satellite data, is presented and an explanation of this new effect is given. It is proposed that the proton-whistler is simply a dispersed form of the original lightning impulse and that the dispersion can be explained by considering the effect of ions on the propagation of an electromagnetic wave in the ionosphere. The propagation of a wave in a multicomponent plasma for frequencies on the order of the ion gyrofrequencies is discussed. It is shown that the proton-whistler is an ion cyclotron wave which occurs via a polarization reversal process. Near the altitude and frequencies for which polarization reversal occurs it is shown that the right-hand polarized wave and the ion cyclotron wave may be strongly coupled. For frequencies on the order of the ion gyrofrequencies this coupling process plays an important part in determining what regions of the ionosphere are accessible to waves from a given source location.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0611828
Entities
People
- D. A. Gurnett
Organizations
- Iowa State University