Precipitation of Inner-Zone Electrons by Whistler-Mode Waves from the VLF Transmitters UMS and NWC

Koons, H. C.; Edgar, B. C.; Vampola, A. L.

doi:10.21236/ada092919

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 4 publications

(4 reference statements)

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“…Although some VLF transmitter power can leak into the inner magnetosphere, previous detailed analyses have shown 19 that VLF wave interactions (due to Doppler-shifted cyclotron resonances) from ground transmitters would only be substantial for electrons with energies ,0.5 MeV and would be expected to be important only at mid-latitude locations where L , 2. We conclude that such man-made signals do not have a substantial effect on the ultrarelativistic particles (which should instead be much more efficiently scattered by lower-frequency hiss at L < 2.…”

Section: Research Lettermentioning

confidence: 99%

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An impenetrable barrier to ultrarelativistic electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts

Baker

Jaynes

Hoxie

et al. 2014

Nature

179

184

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Early observations indicated that the Earth's Van Allen radiation belts could be separated into an inner zone dominated by high-energy protons and an outer zone dominated by high-energy electrons. Subsequent studies showed that electrons of moderate energy (less than about one megaelectronvolt) often populate both zones, with a deep 'slot' region largely devoid of particles between them. There is a region of dense cold plasma around the Earth known as the plasmasphere, the outer boundary of which is called the plasmapause. The two-belt radiation structure was explained as arising from strong electron interactions with plasmaspheric hiss just inside the plasmapause boundary, with the inner edge of the outer radiation zone corresponding to the minimum plasmapause location. Recent observations have revealed unexpected radiation belt morphology, especially at ultrarelativistic kinetic energies (more than five megaelectronvolts). Here we analyse an extended data set that reveals an exceedingly sharp inner boundary for the ultrarelativistic electrons. Additional, concurrently measured data reveal that this barrier to inward electron radial transport does not arise because of a physical boundary within the Earth's intrinsic magnetic field, and that inward radial diffusion is unlikely to be inhibited by scattering by electromagnetic transmitter wave fields. Rather, we suggest that exceptionally slow natural inward radial diffusion combined with weak, but persistent, wave-particle pitch angle scattering deep inside the Earth's plasmasphere can combine to create an almost impenetrable barrier through which the most energetic Van Allen belt electrons cannot migrate.

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Section: Research Lettermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Early work 18,19 supported the view that powerful, very low-frequency (VLF) radio transmitters at fixed locations on Earth's surface could cause substantial loss Allen radiation belts. a-e, REPT-A instrument data 26 from initial instrument turn-on (1 September 2012) until 1 May 2014.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An impenetrable barrier to ultrarelativistic electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts

Baker

Jaynes

Hoxie

et al. 2014

Nature

179

184

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“…Considering that the frequencies of the transmitters are between 10 and 25 kHz and using Equation (18), it is shown that the energy of the precipitated particles is a few keV. The resonance condition for relativistic electrons with a local pitch angle a is given by (Koons et al, 1981;Vampola, 1987):…”

Section: Electron Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their ionospheric perturbations have mainly been observed in-situ by satellites. It includes: triggering of new waves (Dowden et al, 1978;Bell et al, 1983;Titova et al, 1984;Bell, 1985;Groves et al, 1988;Bell andNgo, 1988, 1990;Sotnikov et al, 1991), ionospheric heating (Inan, 1990;Bell et al, 1991;Dowden and Adams, 1992;Inan et al, 1992;, wave-electron interactions (Inan et al, 1978;Inan et al, 1982Inan et al, , 1984Inan et al, , 1985Dowden, 1985), and particle precipitation (Koons et al, 1981;Vampola, 1987Vampola, , 1990. Moreover, magnetospheric amplification of VLF pulses through wave-electron interaction is enhanced during magnetic storms (Smith and Clilverd, 1991).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical mechanisms of man-made influences on the magnetosphere

Parrot

Zaslavski

1996

Surv Geophys

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Since the discovery of the Luxembourg effect in the 1930s, it is clear that man-made activities can perturb the ionosphere and the magnetosphere. The anthropogenic effects are mainly clue to different kinds of waves coming from the Earth's surface. Acoustic-gravity waves are generated by large explosions, spacecraft launches, or flight of supersonic planes. Electromagnetic waves are active in different frequency ranges. Power line harmonic radiation which is radiated in the ELF range by electrical power systems can be observed over industrial areas. At VLF and HF, the ground-based transmitters used for communications or radio-navigation heat the ionosphere and change the natural parameters. A large variety of phenomena is observed: wave-particle interaction, precipitation of radiation belt electrons, parametric coupling of EM whistler waves, triggered emissions, frequency shift, and whistler spectrum broadening. This paper will review the different physical mechanisms which are relevant to such perturbations. The possibility of direct chemical pollution in the ionosphere due to gas releases is also discussed.

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“…Moreover the authors of [Abel and Thorne, 1998a;Abel and Thorne, 1998b;Koon et al, 1981;Imhof et al, 1983] concluded that man-made VLF transmitters operating continuously in the 17-23 kHz range have a significant impact on 100-1500 keV electron lifetimes. The studies of transmitter-induced precipitation (e.g., Inan et al, 1984) have concentrated on magnetospherically "ducted" propagation, placing the predicted precipitation regions in the vicinity of the major transmitters, largely located at L-shells of L > 2.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

VLF electromagnetic field structures in ionosphere disturbed by Sura RF heating facility

et al. 2010

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[1] Observation of spatial VLF field structures in an artificially disturbed ionosphere is reported. The disturbed area with horizontal sizes ∼50 km in a quiet middle-latitude ionosphere was produced by the powerful RF Sura heating facility (56°1′N, 46°1′E). Measurements were carried out onboard the DEMETER satellite while passing the disturbed area at height ∼700 km. Spectra broadening (Df < ±1 kHz) and considerable (up to 30 dB) increase of signal intensity of VLF transmitters' signals were observed. The VLF field and electron density irregularities have similar spatial structure. The characteristics of the VLF field in disturbed by RF heating area are analyzed.Citation: Rapoport, V. O., V. L. Frolov, S.

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Precipitation of Inner-Zone Electrons by Whistler-Mode Waves from the VLF Transmitters UMS and NWC

Cited by 16 publications

References 4 publications

An impenetrable barrier to ultrarelativistic electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts

An impenetrable barrier to ultrarelativistic electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts

Physical mechanisms of man-made influences on the magnetosphere

VLF electromagnetic field structures in ionosphere disturbed by Sura RF heating facility

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