Journal article
Simultaneous radio and optical observations of auroral structures: Implications for AKR beaming
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.116(A12), p.n/a
12/2011
DOI: 10.1029/2011JA017168
Abstract
Polar spacecraft observations of auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) spectra, combined with simultaneous optical images of the auroral oval at the source foot points, show a strong correlation with discrete auroral features. We discuss several examples of distinctive "V"-shaped profiles in time-frequency AKR spectra for which the time of nadir passage (bottom of V) coincides with the spacecraft crossing field lines connected to discrete auroral arcs. These results support models of AKR emission originating in density cavities with radiation initially confined to a "tangent plane" but strongly refracted upward in a frequency-dependent manner. The inferred spatial distributions of AKR sources are closely coincident with field lines connecting discrete auroral arcs, indicating that discrete arcs are highly correlated with robust AKR emission on the same field lines, as first suggested by Gurnett (1974) several decades ago.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Simultaneous radio and optical observations of auroral structures: Implications for AKR beaming
- Creators
- J. D. Menietti - University of IowaR. L. Mutel - University of IowaI. W. Christopher - University of IowaK. A. Hutchinson - University of IowaJ. B. Sigwarth - Goddard Space Flight Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.116(A12), p.n/a
- Publisher
- Amer Geophysical Union
- DOI
- 10.1029/2011JA017168
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Goddard Space Flight Center NNX07AI24G / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) ATM-0407155 / NSF; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2011
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984627334402771
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