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Large-Amplitude Transmitter-Associated and Lightning-Associated Whistler Waves in the Earth's Inner Plasmasphere at L less than 2We report observations of very large amplitude whistler mode waves in the Earth fs nightside inner radiation belt enabled by the STEREO Time Domain Sampler. Amplitudes range from 30.110 mV/m (zero ]peak), 2 to 3 orders of magnitude larger than previously observed in this region. Measurements from the peak electric field detector (TDSMax) indicate that these large ]amplitude waves are prevalent throughout the plasmasphere. A detailed examination of high time resolution electric field waveforms is undertaken on a subset of these whistlers at L < 2, associated with pump waves from lightning flashes and the naval transmitter NPM in Hawaii, that become unstable after propagation through the ionosphere and grow to large amplitudes. Many of the waveforms undergo periodic polarization reversals near the lower hybrid and NPM naval transmitter frequencies. The reversals may be related to finite plasma temperature and gradients in density induced by ion cyclotron heating of the plasma at 200 Hz, the modulation frequency of the continuous ]mode NPM naval transmitter signal. Test particle simulations using the amplitudes and durations of the waves observed herein suggest that they can interact strongly with high ]energy (>100 keV) electrons on a time scale of <1 s and thus may be an important previously unaccounted for source of energization or pitch ]angle scattering in the inner radiation belt.
Document ID
20110013493
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Breneman, A.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Cattell, C.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Wygant, J.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Kersten, K.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Wilson, L. B., III
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Schreiner, S.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Kellogg, P. J.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Goetz, K.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2011
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 116
Issue: A06310
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.4543.2011
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX07AF23G
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-01072
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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