Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 8 of 8
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Auroral Electrojet Irregularity Theory And Experiment: A Criticalreview Of Present Understanding And Future Directions, J. D. Sahr, Bela G. Fejer
Auroral Electrojet Irregularity Theory And Experiment: A Criticalreview Of Present Understanding And Future Directions, J. D. Sahr, Bela G. Fejer
Bela G. Fejer
We review the experimental observations of meter scale plasma irregularities in the auroral E region and the status of their theoretical understanding. Most of the experimental data is derived from VHF radar scatter experiments, but sounding rockets also provide crucial information not obtainable from radars. Linear theories correctly predict the altitude of occurence, strong magnetic aspect sensitivity, marginal instability, and typical phase velocities. Subsequent nonlinear theories have been developed to account for other observed features but with less satisfying application. Further understanding of auroral electrojet irregularities is impeded by precision limitations of existing instruments, by radar data which may seem …
Auroral E-Region Plasma Waves Andelevated Electron Temperatures, Bela G. Fejer, J. Providakes, D. T. Farley, W. E. Swartz
Auroral E-Region Plasma Waves Andelevated Electron Temperatures, Bela G. Fejer, J. Providakes, D. T. Farley, W. E. Swartz
Bela G. Fejer
We have observed 3-m auroral E region plasma waves with a high-resolution 50-MHz radar interferometer at Ithaca. During postmidnight periods of very strong magnetic activity at Ottawa (L = 3.5), the backscattered power and Doppler spectra vary rapidly with time and range and may have both mean Doppler shifts and half power widths in excess of 200 Hz (600 m/s). In addition, when the radar and magnetometer data imply that the current is approximately parallel to the radar line of sight, sharp spectral peaks corresponding to phase velocities approaching 1 km/s sometimes appear suddenly. These persist for at most several …
Electric Field And Plasma Density Measurements In The Auroral Electrojet, R. Pfaff, M. C. Kelley, Bela G. Fejer, E. Kudeki, C. W. Carlson, A. Pedersen, B. Hausler
Electric Field And Plasma Density Measurements In The Auroral Electrojet, R. Pfaff, M. C. Kelley, Bela G. Fejer, E. Kudeki, C. W. Carlson, A. Pedersen, B. Hausler
Bela G. Fejer
Intense electrostatic waves in the auroral E region have been detected simultaneously on two payloads launched in a mother-daughter configuration from Kiruna, Sweden. The data sets comprise electric field and density measurements from the ambient (dc) conditions to fluctuations as high as 50 kHz. The dc electric field measured by both payloads was 54 mV/m northwest, which corresponded to an electron drift velocity of 1080 m/s. This electric field drove two-stream waves perpendicular to both B and E observed by both spacecraft throughout an altitude region which agrees quite well with the range predicted by linear two-stream theory. The power …
Ion Cyclotron Waves As Apossible Source Of Resonant Auroral Radar Echoes, Bela G. Fejer, R. W. Reed, D. T. Farley, W. E. Swartz, M. C. Kelley
Ion Cyclotron Waves As Apossible Source Of Resonant Auroral Radar Echoes, Bela G. Fejer, R. W. Reed, D. T. Farley, W. E. Swartz, M. C. Kelley
Bela G. Fejer
Auroral backscatter radar observations were made from Ithaca, New York, at 50 MHz during the early morning of April 1, 1976, a period of high magnetic disturbance (Kp ∼ 8). The backscattered power showed large rapid (time scale of a few minutes or less) variations, characteristic of discrete radar aurora, from L = 3.5–4. Doppler spectra of waves propagating in nearly the north-south direction from up to 28 different ranges were obtained simultaneously with good spatial (7.5 km) and temporal (2 s) resolution. Some unusual spectra with very narrow peaks at Doppler shifts between about 70 and 90 Hz were …
Directional And Dynamic Variations Ofauroral Power Spectra Related To The Ionospheric Electron Drift Velocity, E. Nielsen, C. I. Haldoupis, Bela G. Fejer, H. M. Ierkic
Directional And Dynamic Variations Ofauroral Power Spectra Related To The Ionospheric Electron Drift Velocity, E. Nielsen, C. I. Haldoupis, Bela G. Fejer, H. M. Ierkic
Bela G. Fejer
Power spectral observations of auroral electron density fluctuations with a scale length of nearly 1 m have been made with the STARE system (Scandinavian twin auroral radar experiment). Simultaneous measurements of the mean radial Doppler velocities were used to derive estimates of the ionospheric electron drift velocity. The data were analyzed to determine the spectral dependence on the magnitude and direction of the electron drift velocity. The two spectral types, characterized as “narrow” and “broad,” were observed simultaneously from the same scattering volume. The width of the broad spectrum (up to about 1200 Hz) can be at least 3 times …
Theory Of Plasma Waves In The Auroral E-Region, Bela G. Fejer, J. Providakes, D. T. Farley
Theory Of Plasma Waves In The Auroral E-Region, Bela G. Fejer, J. Providakes, D. T. Farley
Bela G. Fejer
We have extended the linear fluid theory of electrojet plasma waves to the region where ion magnetization effects are important. Our general dispersion relation includes the effect of cross-field and field-aligned drifts, ion inertia, electron density gradients, and recombination. In the absence of density gradients and recombinational damping, the oscillation frequency at marginal instability is changed by the ion magnetization effects from the ion acoustic frequency, ω = kCs, to the modified ion cyclotron frequency ω² = Ωi² + k²Cs². These upper E region waves can be driven by field-aligned and/or cross-field drifts and have the smallest threshold drift velocities …
First Vhf Auroral Radarinterferometer Observations, J. Providakes, W. E. Swartz, D. T. Farley, Bela G. Fejer
First Vhf Auroral Radarinterferometer Observations, J. Providakes, W. E. Swartz, D. T. Farley, Bela G. Fejer
Bela G. Fejer
The radar interferometer technique first used at the magnetic equator in Peru is also a very powerful means for studying auroral plasma instabilities. We present here the first results, obtained with a 49.92 MHz, 20-25 KW peak power pulsed radar located in Ithaca, NY (42.5° N, 76.4° W). Strong auroral echoes were obtained during several highly active periods. Phase differences between the signals received on the two antennas accurately determine the E-W position, within the scattering volume, of localized scattering centers, and changes in this phase determine the corresponding velocity. The signal Doppler shift describes radial (essentially N-S) motion. The …
Equatorialelectric Fields During Magnetically Disturbed Conditions, 2. Implications Of Simultaneousauroral And Equatorial Measurements, C. A. Gonzales, M. C. Kelley, Bela G. Fejer, J. F. Vickrey, R. F. Woodman
Equatorialelectric Fields During Magnetically Disturbed Conditions, 2. Implications Of Simultaneousauroral And Equatorial Measurements, C. A. Gonzales, M. C. Kelley, Bela G. Fejer, J. F. Vickrey, R. F. Woodman
Bela G. Fejer
Simultaneous auroral and equatorial electric field data are used along with magnetic field data to study anomalous electric field patterns during disturbed times. During some substorms, accompanied by ring current activity, the worldwide equatorial zonal electric field component reverses from the normal pattern. This is interpreted as a partial closure of high latitude field aligned currents in the dayside, low latitude ionosphere. These currents flow westward across the dayside. In several cases the zonal equatorial electric field component was nearly identical in form to the zonal auroral component, indicating the close electrical coupling between these regions. Less certain, but equally …