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At least 127 records · Page 7

Measurement of macroscopic plasma parameters with a radio experiment: Interpretation of the quasi-thermal noise spectrum observed in the solar wind

The ISEE-3 SBH radio receiver has provided the first systematic observations of the quasi-thermal (plasma waves) noise in the solar wind plasma. The theoretical interpretation of that noise involves the particle distribution function so that electric noise measurements with long antennas provide a fast and independent method of measuring plasma parameters: densities and temperatures of a two component (core and halo) electron distribution function have been obtained in that way. The polarization of that noise is frequency dependent and sensitive to the drift velocity of the electron population. Below the plasma frequency, there is evidence of a weak noise spectrum with spectral index -1 which is not yet accounted for by the theory. The theoretical treatment of the noise associated with the low energy (thermal) proton population shows that the moving electrical antenna radiates in the surrounding plasma by Carenkov emission which becomes predominant at the low frequencies, below about 0.1 F sub P.

Couturier, P.↗

Ion Isotropy and Ion Resonant Waves in the Solar Wind: Cassini Observations

Electric fields in the solar wind, in the range of one Hertz, are reported for the first time from a 3-axis stabilized spacecraft. The measurements are made with the Radio and Plasma Wave System (RPWS) experiment on the Cassini spacecraft. Kellogg suggested that such waves could be important in maintaining the near-isotropy of solar wind ions and the validity of MHD for the description of the solar wind. The amplitudes found are larger than those estimated by Kellogg from other measurements, and are due to quasi-electrostatic waves. These amplitudes are quite sufficient to maintain isotropy of the solar wind ions.

Kellogg, Paul J.↗

On the observation of a flare-generated shock wave at 9.7 AU by Pioneer 10

An apparent solar-flare-generated shock wave detected by Pioneer-10 at 9.7 AU on April 9, 1976 is discussed. The shock wave may be correlated with a radio emission burst from Jupiter not associated with Io (March 30). The fact that solar flares observed on March 20 were at the central meridian with respect to Jupiter and Pioneer-10 and the fact that solar activity was very low before March 20 contribute to the argument that a shock wave had propagated to the region of the spacecraft.

Dryer, M.↗

U Burst in the Solar Wind

A type U bursts was observed on 22 June 1998 with the WAVES radio receivers on the Wind spacecraft. It descended in frequency from 5 MHz to the turning frequency of about 1 MHz. It is extremely rare that a U burst is observed at such a low frequency, well out in the solar wind. Using a density model to convert frequency to radial distance, we find that the radio emission started at 3 solar radius, and that the electron stream turned back toward the sun at about 8 solar radius. The probable origin of the energetic electrons was in a B 6.8 X-ray flare that was coincident with the onset of the U burst. A series of images by the SOHO/LASCO chronograph show a slow (214 km/s) CME in progress on the west limb whose front was at 9 solar radius, at the time of the U burst. As no stable magnetic loops exist at radial distances such as 8-9 solar radius, we attribute the U burst to a stream of energetic electrons accelerated in an active region at the footpoint of one leg of the expanding arch of the CME. The electron stream became unstable and began emitting radio emission at about 3 solar radius, continued to emit as it passed the top of the loop at 8-9 solar radius, then stopped emitting in the downgoing leg at about 4 solar radius.

Leblanc, Y.↗

Langmuir-like waves and radiation in planetary foreshocks

The basic objectives of this NASA Grant are to develop theoretical understandings (tested with spacecraft data) of the generation and characteristics of electron plasma waves, commonly known as Langmuir-like waves, and associated radiation near f(sub p) and 2f(sub p) in planetary foreshocks. (Here f(sub p) is plasma frequency.) Related waves and radiation in the source regions of interplanetary type III solar radio bursts provide a simpler observational and theoretical context for developing and testing such understandings. Accordingly, applications to type III bursts constitute a significant fraction of the research effort. The testing of the new Stochastic Growth Theory (SGT) for type III bursts, and its extension and testing for foreshock waves and radiation, constitutes a major longterm strategic goal of the research effort.

Cairns, Iver H.↗

Testing general relativity: Progress, problems, and prospects

The results from ground-based experimental testing are presented. Prospects for improving these experiments are discussed. Radar echo time delays, perihelion advance and solar oblateness, time variation of the gravitational constant, and radio wave deflection are considered. Ground-based and spacecraft techniques are compared on an accuracy vs. cost basis.

Shapiro, I. I.↗

Solar millimeter bursts

Solar burst observations in the region above 10 GHz (wavelengths less than 3 cm.) are discussed. Observations have shown that many major solar events have large millimeter wave components. The total burst radio energy is frequently concentrated in this part of the spectrum. Graphs are presented showing the peak flux density spectrum for bursts on specific dates. Microwave burst mean duration is plotted as a function of the particle energy.

Croom, D. L.↗

Shock waves generated by the intense solar flare of 1972, August 7, 15:00 UT

The dynamic radio spectrum of the class 3B solar flare of 1972, August 7, 15:00 UT, over the band 10 to 2000 MHz is examined. Type II and type IV bursts in the spectrum are interpreted in terms of a piston-driven shock, which appeared to be traveling at a velocity of about 1500 km per sec and which generated pulsations in the band 100 to 200 MHz as it passed through the corona. The progress of the shock through the interplanetary plasma was subsequently monitored by Malitson et al. with radio equipment covering the band 0.03 to 2.6 MHz on the IMP-6 satellite.

Maxwell, A.↗

Radio physics of the sun; Proceedings of the Symposium, University of Maryland, College Park, Md., August 7-10, 1979

Papers are presented in the areas of the radio characteristics of the quiet sun and active regions, the centimeter, meter and decameter wavelength characteristics of solar bursts, space observations of low-frequency bursts, theoretical interpretations of solar active regions and bursts, joint radio, visual and X-ray observations of active regions and bursts, and the similarities of stellar radio characteristics to solar radio phenomena. Specific topics include the centimeter and millimeter wave characteristics of the quiet sun, radio fluctuations arising upon the transit of shock waves through the transition region, microwave, EUV and X-ray observations of active region loops and filaments, interferometric observations of 35-GHz radio bursts, emission mechanisms for radio bursts, the spatial structure of microwave bursts, observations of type III bursts, the statistics of type I bursts, and the numerical simulation of type III bursts. Attention is also given to the theory of type IV decimeter bursts, Voyager observations of type II and III bursts at kilometric wavelengths, radio and whitelight observations of coronal transients, and the possibility of obtaining radio observations of current sheets on the sun.

Kundu, M. R.↗

Radio wave propagation at frequencies exceeding MUF-F2 in the short wave band

The results of measurements of field strength and signal/noise ratio on experimental ionospheric-scattering short wave radio links are presented. It is shown that the seasonal and diurnal variations of field strength are determined by features of solar and meteoric activity. The role of the sporadic E-layer in propagation of short radio waves at frequencies exceeding MUF-F2 is noted.

Ashkaliyev, Y. F.↗

The scientific mission of Ulysses

The major aims of the Ulysses' scientific investigations of the heliosphere at all latitudes are described. Missions goals include the assessment of the global three-dimensional properties of the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind, the study of the composition of the solar wind plasma at different heliographic latitudes, and the study of the acceleration of energetic particles in solar flares. Waves, shocks and other discontinuities in the solar wind will be investigated through sampling of various plasma conditions, and interplanetary dust and cosmic rays will be analyzed. Other important goals include the search for gamma-ray-burst sources and for low-frequency gravitational waves by using the spacecraft's radio communication link. Achievement of the Ulysses' solar pole trajectory, which will utilize both launch vehicle thrust and gravitational pull, is also described.

Wenzel, K.-P.↗

Dynamics and efficiency of type III solar radio emission

Existing calculations of nonlinear coupling coefficients for fundamental and harmonic emission via three-wave interactions are refined and used to calculate the conversion efficiency of Langmuir energy into electromagnetic waves when the Langmuir waves have the observed bursty form. Resulting field strengths for harmonic emission are found to be consistent with typical International Sun Earth Explorer 3 (ISSE 3) observations at 1 AU. Fundamental emission at 1 AU is found to proceed only when stimulated by the presence of a source of ion sound waves. However, it is argued that electrostatic decay of Langmuir waves can supply the necessary waves provided the driving electron beam is sufficiently fast. Under these conditions, the predicted fundamental field strengths can account for both the highest and typical fields observed; they also dominate the predicted harmonic fields, consistent with observations. This mechanism is also consistent with previous observations that fundamental emission generally occurs early in type III events, when the beam is fastest. For typical parameters it is shown that neither fundamental nor harmonic emission saturates its respective source instability, contrary to previous assumptions. However, saturation cannot be ruled out under particularly favorable conditions.

Robinson, P. A.↗

Solar Flares and Their Prediction

Solar flares and coronal mass ejection's (CMES) can strongly affect the local environment at the Earth. A major challenge for solar physics is to understand the physical mechanisms responsible for the onset of solar flares. Flares, characterized by a sudden release of energy (approx. 10(exp 32) ergs for the largest events) within the solar atmosphere, result in the acceleration of electrons, protons, and heavier ions as well as the production of electromagnetic radiation from hard X-rays to km radio waves (wavelengths approx. = 10(exp -9) cm to 10(exp 6) cm). Observations suggest that solar flares and sunspots are strongly linked. For example, a study of data from 1956-1969, reveals that approx. 93 percent of major flares originate in active regions with spots. Furthermore, the global structure of the sunspot magnetic field can be correlated with flare activity. This talk will review what we know about flare causes and effects and will discuss techniques for quantifying parameters, which may lead to a prediction of solar flares.

Adams, Mitzi L.↗

Features of solar wind acceleration according to radio occultation data

In addressing one of the fundamental problems in solar physics establishing the mechanism(s) responsible for the solar wind acceleration and the corona heating - it is essential to have a reliable knowledge of the heliocentric radial dependence of the solar wind properties. Adequate data are available for small solar distances R less than 4 R(solar mass) from coronal white light and EUV observations and at distances R greater than 60 R(solar mass) from in situ measurements. One of the few methods available to fill in the gap between these boundaries is the radio scintillation technique. Taking the example of the solar wind velocity, the most reliable such measurements are obtained when phase fluctuation observations of scattered radio waves, which are not susceptible to saturation effects, are recorded at two or more widely-spaced ground stations. Two extensive observation campaigns of this type were carried out with the Venus-orbiting satellites Venera 10 in 1976 and Venera 15/16 in 1984. The observations were performed over the course of three months near superior conjunction at solar offset distances R approximately 6-80 R(solar mass). The main results from the subsequent analysis of these data are: (1) velocities vary between 250 and 380 km s(exp -1) for R greater than 20 R(solar mass), agreeing with similar measurements using natural sources (IPS); (2) velocities derived from two-station phase fluctuation observations varv between 70 and 120 km s(exp -1) for R less than 12 R(solar mass), i.e. values substantially lower than those derived from conventional IPS data; and (3) it is suggested that the different velocity profiles derived from the two data sets at small R may be due to the effects of magnetosonic and Alfvenic waves on radio wave scattering. Further analysis of additional radio sounding data should help resolve the apparent discrepancy.

Efimov, A. I.↗

Ulysses radio observations of the heliospheric activity in early June 1991

The radio receiver of the URAP (Unified Radio and Plasma Wave) experiment on Ulysses has recorded a heliospheric activity particularly intense between late May and early June 1991. Many solar radio emissions of types III and II were observed together with interplanetary (IP) shocks. In the same time, the radio spectrograph ARTEMIS at Nancay (France) observed several intense type II bursts. We investigate the association and/or interaction of these radio emissions, which are remotely observed, with some IP shocks detected in situ, in the context of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) induced scenario.

Hoang, S.↗

Induced emission of radiation near 2(omega sub e) by a synchrotron-maser instability

In the literature, the emission of radiation at 2(omega sub e), where omega sub e denotes the electron plasma frequency, is usually explained as having been produced by the nonlinear interaction of two Langmuir waves via a backscattering process. Since the emission is frequently observed in solar radio bursts, the mechanism has attracted considerable theoretical interest. In the present paper a model is proposed based on a synchrotron-maser instability excited by a hollow beam of moderately relativistic electrons in a plasma, in which the plasma frequency is much higher than the gyrofrequency. An important conclusion is that, as a result of this instability, unpolarized electromagnetic waves with frequencies near 2(omega sub e) may be amplified.

Wu, C. S.↗

Detectability of electrostatic decay products in Ulysses and Galileo observations of type 3 solar radio sources

Recent in situ Ulysses and Galileo observations of the source regions of type 3 solar radio bursts appear to show an absence of ion acoustic waves S produced by nonlinear Langmuir wave processes such as the electrostatic (ES) decay, in contradiction with earlier ISEE 3 observations and analytic theory. This letter resolves these apparent contradictions. Refined analyses of the maximum S-wave electric fields produced by ES decay and of the characteristics of the Ulysses Wave Form Analyzer (WFA) instrument show that the bursty S waves observed by the ISEE 3 should be essentially undetectable by the Ulysses WFA. It is also shown that the maximum S-wave levels predicted for the Galileo event are approximately less than the instrumental noise level, thereby confirming an earlier suggestion. Thus, no contradictions exist between the ISEE 3 and Ulysses/Galileo observation, and no evidence exists against ES decay in the published Ulysses and Galileo data. All available data are consistent with, or at worst not inconsistent with, the ES decay proceeding and being the dominant nonlinear process in type 3 bursts.

Cairns, Iver H.↗