Waves and Electric Fields Associated with the December 27, 1984, Artificial Comet.
Abstract
A variety of plasma wave and electric field effects were observed during the AMPTE (Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers) solar wind barium release. Electron plasma oscillations at the local electron plasma frequency provided measurements of the electron density during the entire event. A static electric field of about 1 to 2 mVolt/m was detected in the diamagnetic cavity. This electric field is in the same direction as the solar wind electric field, suggesting that polarization charges in the ion cloud are not effective at shielding out an external electric field. As the spacecraft passed through the boundary of the diamagnetic cavity, a region of compressed plasma and magnetic field was detected upstream of the ion cloud. This region of compressed plasma is believed to be caused by solar wind plasma and magnetic field lines draped around the noise of the ion cloud. Inside the diamagnetic cavity electrostatic emissions were observed in a narrow band centered on the barium ion plasma frequency and in another band at lower frequencies. These waves are believed to be short wavelength ion acoustic waves. Bursts of electrostatic waves were also observed at the boundaries of the diamagnetic cavity, apparently caused by an electron drift current along the boundary.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 27, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA163409
Entities
People
- Donald A. Gurnett
- G. Haerendel
- G. Paschmann
- R. R. Anderson
- T. Z. Ma
Organizations
- University of Iowa