Explorer 45 and Imp 6 observations in the magnetosphere of injected waves from the Siple Station VLF transmitter

• Main Authors: Inan, U. S., Bell, T. F., Carpenter, D. L., Anderson, R. R.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1977
• Subjects: 46; Siple; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19770044473

Results are reported for an experiment in which VLF waves from a transmitter in Antarctica were injected into the magnetosphere along geomagnetic field lines and detected near the magnetic equatorial plane by high-altitude spacecraft. The purpose of this experiment was to conduct a controlled in situ study of VLF wave-particle interactions and to determine the propagation characteristics of the injected waves in the magnetosphere, the regions where VLF emissions are produced, and the effective volume of the magnetosphere illuminated by the transmitter. The results indicate that: (1) the bulk of the satellite receptions occurred during periods of quieting following magnetic disturbances, (2) receptions generally occurred inside the plasmapause, (3) the spacecraft detected predominantly unducted waves, (4) the injected signals could illuminate a large volume of the magnetosphere, and (5) VLF emissions were triggered by nonducted transmitter pulses.