ALBERT

Description: We report a multipoint case study of the electromagnetic equatorial noise observed by the Cluster project. High-resolution data were measured in three close points in space located in the morning sector of the outer plasmasphere. We demonstrate a narrow latitudinal extent of the emissions with a typical width of 2 degrees, centered near the minimum-B equator. Power spectra recorded by the different satellites show a complex structure of emission lines whose relative intensities and positions vary at timescales of 1-2 min and/or at spatial scales of tens of wavelengths. These lines do not match harmonics of the local proton cyclotron frequency, as it would be expected if the waves are generated by energetic ions and observed near the source region. We bring observational evidence that the waves propagate with a significant radial component and thus can propagate from a distant generation region located at different radial distances where ion cyclotron frequencies match the observed fine structure.

Description: We report the results of an investigation of waves observed by the Polar spacecraft at high altitudes and latitudes and at frequencies just above the cyclotron frequency. These observations are made frequently when the spacecraft is over the polar cap as well as near the dayside cusp and near the nightside auroral region, and observations are made for ratios of plasma frequency to cyclotron frequency, f(sub p)/f(sub c) = 1. Using the six-channel high-frequency waveform receiver (HFWR) on board the spacecraft, which can provide three-axis electric and three-axis magnetic field measurements, we attempt to identify the wavemode of these emissions and investigate possible source mechanisms including low-energy electron beams. We further observe electromagnetic emission associated with upper hybrid waves near and within the plasmasphere. This emission is consistent with both Z and O modes.

Description: We have conducted a statistical survey of a semirandom sample of the auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) data observed by the plasma wave instrument wideband receiver on board the Polar spacecraft. We have determined that AKR fine structure patterns with very narrowband, negative drifting striations occur in approximately 6% of the high-resolution wideband spectrograms when AKR is present. Positive sloping striations are also observed, but at a much lower rate. More than 8200 AKR stripes have been scaled. The stripes are predominantly found in the 40 to 215-kHz frequency range and have a frequency extent of about 4 kHz and a duration of usually less than 2 s. The majority of the stripes have drift rates between -8 and -2 kHz/s, with a peak in the distribution between -6 and -4 kHz/s. There is also a much smaller group of striations with positive drift rates of up to about 5 or 6 kHz/s. We have further investigated the change of drift rate with frequency. Almost all striations are observed in the lowest two frequency bands of the wideband receiver (f 〈 215 kHz). There is an increase in the statistical drift rate with increasing frequency. The statistical slope of the striations increases with frequency from about -4.4 kHz/s at 75 kHz to about -5.7 kHz/s at 170 kHz. This frequency dependence of the drift rate is consistent, under certain conditions, with a production mechanism stimulated by an upward propagating electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave, as had been suggested earlier. However, such a changing drift rate is also compatible with a stimulated source region that propagates upward along the magnetic field line at the velocity of an ion beam accelerated by a local, upward directed electric field, as is typically observed in the auroral region. An explanation for this association is not apparent at this time.