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Wave rectification in plasma sheaths surrounding electric field antennasCombined measurements of Langmuir or broadband whistler wave intensity and lower-frequency electric field waveforms, all at 10-microsecond time resolution, were made on several recent sounding rockets in the auroral ionosphere. It is found that Langmuir and whistler waves are partically rectified in the plasma sheaths surrounding the payload and the spheres used as antennas. This sheath rectification occurs whenever the high frequency (HF) potential across the sheath becomes of the same order as the electron temperature or higher, for wave frequencies near or above the ion plasma frequency. This rectification can introduce false low-frequency waves into measurements of electric field spectra when strong high-frequency waves are present. Second harmonic signals are also generated, although at much lower levels. The effect occurs in many different plasma conditions, primarily producing false waves at frequencies that are low enough for the antenna coupling to the plasma to be resistive.
Document ID
19950036514
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Boehm, M. H.
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Carlson, C. W.
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Mcfadden, J. P.
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Clemmons, J. H.
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Ergun, R. E.
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Mozer, F. S.
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 99
Issue: A11
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
95A68113
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG6-10
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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