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Whistler waves observed upstream from collisionless shocksWaves in the frequency range 0.5-4. Hz have been studied in the region upstream of the earth's bow shock with data from the flux-gate magnetic field experiment on Imp 6. Such waves are invariably detected adjacent to the shock, persisting upstream for intervals often less than a minute but occasionally of the order of many hours. Analysis of 150 examples of these waves during a 3-month interval indicates that propagation directions generally make angles of between 20 and 40 deg with the field direction. The waves as measured in the spacecraft frame of reference are either left- or right-hand-polarized with respect to the average field direction. The left-handed waves generally have lower frequencies than the right-handed waves, and the left-handed frequencies never exceed 2.5 Hz. The measured sense of polarization is found to depend on the propagation direction (or alternatively, the field direction) relative to the solar wind direction.
Document ID
19740044933
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Fairfield, D. H.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 7, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1974
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 79
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
74A27683
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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