Source mechanism for terrestrial kilometric radiation

The intense electromagnetic radiation of near earth origin, observed by the OGO, IMP, and Hawkeye satellites, can be explained in terms of plasma oscillations near the upper hybrid frequency which are stimulated in the high latitude regions at distances within 5 earth radii. The wave energy is converted from the longitudinal electrostatic mode to the transverse electromagnetic mode as it travels in the slightly inhomogeneous magnetosphere, and it is reflected at the point where the wave frequency equals the local electron plasma frequency. Peak emission region occurs near 2 earth radii. The original plasma oscillations are generated in the turbulent plasma produced by precipitating electrons associated with discrete auroral arcs. The mechanism has possible applications to studies of the irregular structure of the magnetospheric thermal plasma and to models for the decametric radiation from Jupiter.