A broadband VLF burst associated with ring current electrons

Abstract

A determination is made of the source of a broadband VLF burst observed during the inbound plasmapause crossing of the explorer 45 spacecraft on April 2, 1972 in the late stage of a geomagnetic storm. Electric and magnetic receiver data from the satellite were spectrally analyzed, showing a 1-3 kHz whistler component and an emission broadening event comprising enhancement of the 1.0 and 1.78 kHz electric field intensities by several orders of magnitude. A corresponding and simulaneous enhancement of the ring current electrons was observed. The emission band spreading was attributed to the generation of quasi-electrostatic short wavelength whistler mode emissions by hot bi-maxwellian electrons surging into the domain of low density magnetized cold plasma. The inner edge of the plasma sheet, which was the source of the electrons, was not far from the event.