Temporal Evolution of Whistler Growth in a Cold Plasma Injection Experiment.
Abstract
Using a simple time dependent cold plasma density model and assuming a typical ambient radation belt environment, the authors study the evolution of the whistler mode turbulence and particle precipitation in a cold plasma release experiment similar to one which may be conducted as part of the AMPTE program. It is known from earlier work that the release of cold lithium ions can significantly lower the critical energy E sub c above which the resonant radiation belt electrons can pitch angle scatter. They study the time evolution of the one pass gain factor for a whistler wave packet and find that for parameters accessible to AMPTE type experiments the gain factor is large enough to ensure strong whistler turbulence and strong pitch angle diffusion of radiation belt particles with energies in the range between the ambient value of E sub c and the reduced value of E sub c. Estimates for the total power input to the ionospheric footprint of the release are of the order of an erg/sq cm/sec. This precipitated energy should produce a patch of visible aurora. This effect should also persist for many hours. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 06, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA144016
Entities
People
- G. Ganguli
- J. Fedder
- P. Palmadesso
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory