Whistler-Duct Formation: A Magnetospheric Instability.

Abstract

Magnetospheric ducts that guide very-low-frequency (VLF) radiation are subject to spontaneous intensification by a linear instability that arises from the coupling between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. The elements of this instability comprise a localized enhancement of electron precipitation and a field-aligned column of enhanced plasma density, each in turn causing the other. This interaction can create fully developed plasmapheric ducts spontaneously from infinitesimal fluctuations. A whistler duct thus formed attains saturation (nonlinear stabilization) by virtue of ionospheric recombination and the bounded supply of electrons available for precipitation. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 18, 1972
Accession Number
AD0756461

Entities

People

  • Harry C. Koons
  • Michael Schulz

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Corpuscular Radiation
  • Couplings
  • Electrons
  • Elementary Fermions
  • Elementary Particles
  • Fermions
  • Frequency
  • Instability
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Ionosphere
  • Magnetosphere
  • Nuclear Radiation
  • Precipitation
  • Radiation
  • Saturation
  • Very Low Frequency
  • Whistlers

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics