Localization of the source of precipitating electrons in active arcs during breakup and in pulsating auroras

The sensitive method for detecting and measuring the velocity of a weak luminosity wave, traveling from bottom to top along an arc or isolated auroral beams, has been developed. This wave is caused by dispersion of precipitating electrons over velocities and by a differential atmospheric penetration of different-energy electrons, and the wave velocity gives information about the location of the electron acceleration region in the magnetosphere. The method was tested using different model signals and was used to study pulsating auroras and auroral breakup. A luminosity wave has been detected in pulsating auroras, and it has been estimated that the injection region is located at a distance of 5–6 R _e . The application of the method to intensification of auroras during breakup indicated that such a wave is absent; i.e., breakup electrons being accelerated near the ionosphere at altitudes of 2000–8000 km. It has been assumed that the regions of anomalous resistance, generated in the ionosphere by field-aligned currents during the breakup phase, cause intense local field-aligned electric fields. These fields accelerate thermal electrons and form the auroral breakup pattern.     

Electromagnetic and plasma effects during a carrier rocket flight

The disturbance generation model for the total electron content of the ionosphere and formation of the narrowband spectrum of electromagnetic disturbance on the Earth during a rocket flight along the horizontal leg of the trajectory has been considered. It has been indicated that a change in the total electron content is caused by the propagation of an acoustic gravity wave pulse, generated during a rocket flight along the horizontal trajectory leg, in the ionosphere. This pulse forms horizontal inhomogeneities of ionospheric conductivity in the bottomside ionosphere. Electric currents, induced by the background electromagnetic field in these inhomogeneities, are emitters of discrete modes of coherent gyrotropic waves propagating horizontally in a conductive layer of a finite thickness in the bottomside ionosphere. The line spectrum of electromagnetic disturbances has been calculated. The calculation results agree with the observational data.     

Reaction of the high-latitude lower ionosphere to solar proton events from observations in the ELF range

The reaction of the lower ionosphere to the solar proton events that occurred in 2011–2012 is studied in this paper based on the results of measurements of the propagation velocity and the E _z /H _τ ratio of the low-frequency electromagnetic pulses (atmospherics) in the ELF range at the high-latitude observatories Lovozero and Barentsburg. With numerical modeling methods, it is shown that horizontal local irregularities of the lower ionosphere conductivity profile could be a cause of the splashes in the E _z /H _τ ratio observed in the experiment during the solar proton event of March 7, 2012, which was a unique event in both the proton flux value and energy.     

Magnetic polarization of the Schumann resonances: An asymptotic theory

Horizontal components of extremely low-frequency (ELF) fields in the gyrotropic Earth–ionosphere cavity are expressed through the fields of an isotropic cavity. A linear approximation of the perturbation method with respect to two small parameters is used. These are the impedance z₀ of the isotropic ionosphere and the ratio γ≡z₂/z₁ of the off-diagonal to diagonal elements of the surface impedance matrix of the gyrotropic ionosphere. It is shown that the effect of splitting of the Schumann resonance frequencies caused by the existence of the d.c. geomagnetic field results in an “apparent” angular shift of all ground-based sources of ELF radiation toward the geographic West (“refraction of ELF fields in the gyrotropic Earth–ionosphere cavity”) and excitation of an elliptical magnetic polarization. An analytical relation for the mentioned phenomena is derived. Explicit expressions for polarization characteristics of the electromagnetic ELF noise excited by an arbitrary number of equatorial thunderstorm centers are obtained. Expected values of the “apparent” angular shift for these sources are estimated. Analysis of the estimated magnitudes shows that locations of thunderstorm centers and isolated Q-bursts determined with the use of multi-component ELF measurements should be corrected to exclude the “gyrotropic refraction” effect. Equations to calculate the necessary corrections are presented. The results are generalized to the case of an arbitrary latitudinal location of the sources.     

Theoretical developments on the causes of ionospheric outflow

It is now well known that there is a substantial outflow of ionospheric plasma from the terrestrial ionosphere at high latitudes. The outflow consists of light thermal ions (H⁺, He⁺) as well as both light and heavy energized ions (H⁺, He⁺, O⁺, N⁺, NO⁺, O₂⁺, N₂⁺). The thermal ion outflows tend to be associated with the classical polar wind, while the energized ions are probably associated with either auroral energization processes or nonclassical polar wind processes. Part of the problem with identifying the exact cause of a given outflow relates to the fact that the ionosphere continuously convects into and out of the various high-latitude regions (sunlight, cusp, polar cap, nocturnal oval) and the time-constant for outflow is comparable to the convection time. Therefore, it is difficult to separate and quantify the possible outflow mechanisms. Some of these mechanisms are as follows. In sunlit regions, the photoelectrons can heat the thermal electrons and the elevated electron temperature acts to increase the polar wind outflow rate. At high altitudes, the escaping photoelectrons can also accelerate the polar wind as they drag the thermal ions with them. In the cusp and auroral oval, the precipitating magnetospheric electrons can heat the thermal electrons in a manner similar to the photoelectrons. Also, energized ions, in the form of beams and conics, can be created in association with field-aligned auroral currents and potential structures. The cusp ion beams and conics that have been convected into the polar cap can destabilize the polar wind when they pass through it at high altitudes, thereby transferring energy to the thermal ions. Additional energization mechanisms in the polar cap include Joule heating, hot magnetospheric electrons and ions, electromagnetic wave turbulence, and centrifugal acceleration.Some of these causes of ionospheric outflow will be briefly reviewed, with the emphasis on the recent simulations of polar wind dynamics in convecting flux tubes of plasma.     

Spatial field structure and polarization of geomagnetic pulsations in conjugate areas

The ultra-low-frequency (ULF) geomagnetic pulsations observed at two nearly conjugate mid-latitude sites are examined to study their spatial structure and polarization, and learn about the role of ionospheric conductivity in forming their ground signatures. The data of 1999–2002 from Antarctica and New England (L of 2.4) are compared with the numerical results obtained in a simple plane model of ULF wave propagation through the ionosphere and atmosphere. The multi-layered model environment includes an anisotropic and parametrically time-dependent ionosphere, a uniform magnetosphere and a conducting Earth, all placed in a tilted geomagnetic field. The measured diurnal and seasonal variations in the orientation angle of the polarization ellipse are interpreted as effects of hydromagnetic wave propagation through the ionosphere and conversion to an electromagnetic field below. Essentially, the phase, amplitude and polarization of ULF waves observed at the ground are controlled by the wave's spatial structure in the magnetosphere and ionospheric transverse conductivities. The differences shown by the characteristics of simultaneous pulsations in conjugate areas arise mainly from different local ionospheric conditions, while the source waves of the pulsations are common to both sites.     

Effect of magnetic storms in variations in the atmospheric electric field at midlatitudes

The observations of the variations in the vertical component of the atmospheric electric field (E _z ) at Swider midlatitude Poland observatory (geomagnetic latitude 47.8°) under the conditions of fair weather during 14 magnetic storms have been analyzed. The effect of the magnetic storm main phase in the daytime midlatitude variations in E _z in the absence of local geomagnetic disturbances has been detected for the first time. Considerable (～100–300 V m^?1) decreases in the electric field strength (E _z ) at Swider observatory were observed in daytime simultaneously with the substorm onset in the nighttime sector of auroral latitudes (College observatory). The detected effects indicate that an intensification of the interplanetary electric field during the magnetic storm main phase, the development of magnetospheric substorms, and precipitation of energetic electrons into the nighttime auroral ionosphere can result in considerable disturbances in the midlatitude atmospheric electric field.     

Dynamics of accelerated electron beams and X rays in solar flares with sub-THz radiation

Unique measurements by a solar submillimeter radio telescope (SST) have been carried out in the sub-THz radiation at 212 and 405 THz over the past decade. The spectrum of RF radiation in this region increased with frequency for the three flares of November 2 and 4, 2003, and December 6, 2006, and the flux value reached 5 × 10³?2 × 10⁴ sfu at 405 GHz (Kaufman et al., 2009). In this work, we consider a set of nonlinear equations for an accelerated electrons beam and the Langmuir wave energy density. The distribution functions of the accelerated electron beam and wave energy density are calculated taking into account Coulomb collisions, electron scattering by waves, and wave scattering by plasma ions. In addition, the source of accelerated particles and the heat level of the Langmuir turbulence are specified. The beam and plasma parameters are chosen based on the aims of a problem. The plasma concentration varies from n = 10¹³ to 10¹⁵ cm^?3, the electron plasma frequency f _p = (3 × 10¹⁰?3 × 10¹¹) Hz in this case. The ratio of plasma and beam concentrations, sufficient to explain the value of the radio flux at a frequency of 300 GHz, is n _b/n = 10^?3. The Langmuir turbulence is excited due to the instability of the accelerated electron beam with an initial distribution function of the ??bump-in-tail?? type. Then, the parameters of radiowaves are calculated in the sub-THz range under the assumption of coalescence of two plasma waves. The calculation results show that a sub-THz radio flux can be obtained under the condition of injection of accelerated electrons. The fine time structure of radio flux observed is easily simulated based on this statement by the pulsed time structure of electron beams and their dynamics in overdense plasma. X-ray and gamma radiation was recorded during the events under study. Hard X-ray radiation is bremsstrahlung radiation from accelerated electron beams.     

Hard X rays of relativistic electrons accelerated in solar flares

The direction and polarization degree of hard X rays (HXRs) in solar flares are studied. The continuous injection of relativistic electrons, which is implemented in powerful flares, is considered. The stationary relativistic kinetic equation is studied by using the method of expansion in terms of the Legendre polynomial and by integrating the equations for the expansion coefficients. The HXR characteristics are calculated using the bremsstrahlung relativistic cross-section for different angular and energetic electron distributions in the acceleration region. A high linear polarization degree of HXRs (??35%) has been obtained for narrow (??cos⁶??) beams of electrons with a soft spectrum (??E ^?6); the polarization degree decreases with increasing quanta energy, whereas the directivity of a high-energy emission increases. This effect is absent for a nonrelativistic approximation. The considered model is applied to one of the most powerful flares in cycle 23, registered on October 28, 2003. The measured polarization degree values at relativistic energies (0.2?C0.4 and 0.4?C1 MeV) agree with the results achieved in the considered model when the electron energy spectrum index (?? = 2.5), angular distribution part (??cos⁶??), and the spectrum cutoff energy (E _max = 1.3 MeV) were specified.     

Disturbances of the ionospheric conductivity owing to the generation of magnetic pulsations in the Pc1 frequency range by means of the heating of electrons by a ground-based high-power high-frequency transmitter

Experiments on the generation of artificial electromagnetic pulsations constitute an important part of investigations of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system with the use of an active action. The investigation of the generation of magnetic pulsations in the Pc1 frequency range has shown that the response of the ionosphere to heating is detected only in a few experiments. Although the primary perturbed parameter is the electron temperature, the efficiency of the generation of pulsations is determined by the perturbations of the ionospheric conductivity. The magnitude of these hertz perturbations depends complexly on the electron density profile and the parameters of a pump wave. The numerical experiment demonstrates the determining effect of the electron density in the D region on the magnitude of perturbations of the ionospheric conductivity. Under conditions of a low electron density, it is impossible to create a large perturbation of the conductivity in the Pc1 frequency range, although perturbations of the electron temperature can be large in this case. In view of a large number of electrons at altitudes of 70–90 km, which absorb a considerable fraction of the energy of a high-frequency wave, the electron temperature in the E region of the ionosphere cannot be sharply increased, but the amplitude of the variations of the ionospheric conductivity in this case is larger than that for the profiles with a low electron density. In the presence of the developed D region, the efficiency of the modification of the conductivity in the indicated frequency range can be increased by choosing the optimal frequency and polarization of the pump wave. A low efficiency of the experiments on the generation of artificial magnetic pulsations in the Pc1 frequency range is apparently explained by the fact that they were performed in winter in the absence of a well-developed D region of the ionosphere.     

Characteristics of the ionospheric correction in ULF wave diagnostics of the magnetosphere

Summary Amplitude and energy correction character istics of the vertical propagation of ULF wave from the magnetosphere through the ionosphere to the Earth's surface, necessary for micropulsation wave diagnostics of the magnetosphere by means of ground-based observations, are introduced on the basis of matrices ofR–T coefficients [1–3]. The coefficients of vertical reflexibility, penetrability, transmissibility (or limpidity) and the absorption of the electromagnetic energy flux are defined, as well as analogous coefficients in the dimensions of the magnetic amplitude of the ULF wave, propagating through the given layer of the ionosphere. An examplary model of the ionosphere is used to demonstrate the frequency variations of these characteristics in the ULF wave range.     

NWC通信台在电离层中激发电磁响应的时变特征

本文利用DEMETER卫星VLF频段电场和磁场频谱数据对DEMETER卫星运行期间2005年至2009年澳大利亚甚低频(Very Low Frequency)通信台NWC发射的通信信号造成的电离层电磁响应的日变化、季节变化及年变化特征进行了统计分析,统计结果表明电磁响应日变化显著,夜间电场强度明显增强可达40dB,磁场变化略小也可为15dB左右,而季节变化不显著,年变化主要受太阳活动的影响,太阳活动越强,电磁响应越小.为解释数据分析结果,对地-电离层电磁波传播过程采用传递矩阵方法进行了模拟计算,模拟结果与数据分析的结果一致.我们认为这种随时间变化的特点可能由250km以下电离层电子密度分布特征导致,因此研究250km以下的电离层电子密度变化可能对寻找地震电离层电磁异常有重要意义.     

3D modelling of VLF radio wave propagation in terrestrial waveguide allowing for localized large-scale ionosphere perturbation

The problem of radio wave propagation allowing for 3D localized lower ionosphere irregularity appears in accordance with the necessity of the theoretical interpretation of VLF remote sensing data. The various processes in the Earth's crust and in space (earthquakes, magnetic storms, sporadic E-layers, lightning induced electron precipitations, rocket launches, artificial ionosphere heating, nuclear explosions, etc.) may cause different power and size ionospheric disturbances. This paper presents a further development of the numerical–analytical method for 3D problem solving. We consider a vector problem of VLF vertical electric dipole field in a plane Earth-ionosphere waveguide with a localized anisotropic ionosphere irregularity. The possibility of lowering (elevating) of the local region of the upper waveguide wall is taken into account. The field components on the boundary surfaces obey the Leontovich impedance conditions. The problem is reduced to a system of 2D integral equations taking into account the depolarization of the field scattered by the irregularity. Using asymptotic (kr⪢1) integration along the direction perpendicular to the propagation path, we transform this system to a system of 1D integral equations. The system is solved in the diagonal approximation, combining direct inversion of the Volterra integral operator and the subsequent iterations. The proposed method is useful for study of both small-scale and large-scale irregularities. We obtained estimates of the TE field components that originate entirely from field scattering by a 3D irregularity.     

Linear mechanism of generation and intencification of internal gravity waves in the ionosphere at their interaction with a nonuniform zonal wind: 1. Model of the medium and initial dynamic equations

The specific features of the generation and intensification of internal gravity wave structures in different atmospheric-ionospheric regions, caused by zonal local nonuniform winds (shear flows), are studied. The model of the medium has been explained and an initial closed system of equations has been obtained in order to study the linear and nonlinear dynamics of internal gravity waves (IGWs) when they interact with the geomagnetic field in a dissipative ionosphere (for the D, E, and F regions).     

Electromagnetic waves in the auroral and subauroral regions of the topside ionosphere

The density and temperature of the plasma electron component and wave emission intensity in the topside ionosphere were measured by the INTERCOSMOS-19 satellite. In the subauroral ionosphere, a decrease in the plasma density correlates with an increase in the plasma electron component temperature. In this case, the additional increase in the electron component temperature was measured in regions with increased plasma density gradients during the substorm recovery phase. In a linear approximation, the electromagnetic wave growth increments are small on electron fluxes precipitating in the auroral zone. It has been indicated that Bernstein electromagnetic waves propagating in the subauroral topside ionosphere can intensify in regions with increased plasma density gradients on electron fluxes orthogonal to the geomagnetic field, which are formed when plasma is heated by decaying electrostatic oscillations of the plasma electron component. This can be one of the most important factors responsible for the intensification of auroral kilometric radiation.     

A viscous-spring transmitting boundary for cylindrical wave propagation in saturated poroelastic media

Based on the u–U formulation of Biot equation and the assumption of zero permeability coefficient, a viscous-spring transmitting boundary which is frequency independent is derived to simulate the cylindrical elastic wave propagation in unbounded saturated porous media. By this viscous-spring boundary the effective stress and pore fluid pressure on the truncated boundary of the numerical model are replaced by a set of spring, dashpot and mass elements, and its simplified form is also given. A u–U formulation FEA program is compiled and the proposed transmitting boundaries are incorporated therein. Numerical examples show that the proposed viscous-spring boundary and its simplified form can provide accurate results for cylindrical elastic wave propagation problems with low or intermediate values of permeability or frequency content. For general two dimensional wave propagation problems, spuriously reflected waves can be greatly suppressed and acceptable accuracy can still be achieved by placing the simplified boundary at relatively large distance from the wave source.     

On plane waves in thermo-viscoelastic solids deformed by magnetic fields

Summary In the present paper,Maxwell's electromagnetic equations together with the equation of motion of two types of viscoelastic solids have been used to deal with the propagation of magneto-thermoviscoelastic plane waves.     

Analysis of high-latitude current systems during the BEAR experiment based on the IZMEM model

Based on the model of large-scale high-latitude current systems developed at IZMIRAN (IZMEM model), it has been indicated that auroral electrojets and current systems concentrated in the polar cap were the generators of long-period geomagnetic variations during the BEAR experiment on the electromagnetic field registration at the Scandinavian test site on June 1–July 15, 1998. Precisely circumpolar current systems, prevailing in the high-latitude ionosphere during the periods of a quiet magnetospheric state, which is characterized by the presence of the northern vertical (B _z >0) component of the IMF vector in the solar wind, are responsible for the magnetotelluric fields.     

基于人工源的甚低频电磁波空间传播特征统计分析

利用2005年1月至2010年11月DEMETER卫星记录的NWC发射站的VLF电场功率谱数据,采用指数拟合的方法,分析了VLF电磁波在卫星高度激发的电场空间分布和衰减特征.研究结果表明:(1)VLF电场在发射站上空及其磁共轭区有着很强的对应关系,存在南、北2个强电场中心涡;(2)相对于发射站的位置,VLF电场中心点具有经度和纬度偏移,日侧地磁经度偏移均值大于夜侧,而地磁纬度偏移均值则小于夜侧;(3)日侧VLF电场强度呈现出周期性的年变化;(4)在VLF电场中心10°范围内,电场强度随距离快速衰减,衰减常数b在长达6年的时间内保持稳定.在以上研究结果基础上初步构建的卫星高度人工源电磁波空间分布特征,将为研究地表-电离层电磁波传播机理提供基础技术支撑.     

基于LWPC和IRI模型的NWC台站信号传播幅度建模分析

频率为3~30 kHz的甚低频（VLF,Very Low Frequency）电磁波具有波长长、传播距离远的特点,能够沿地面-低电离层波导进行传播,在通信、导航等许多领域都被广泛应用.基于波导模理论的长波传播模型（LWPC,Long-Wavelength Propagation Capability）能够用于计算甚低频波的传播路径及幅度,进而研究耀斑、磁暴、地震等事件对电离层的扰动.本文利用国际电离层参考模型（IRI,International Reference Ionosphere）对LWPC中电子密度和碰撞频率进行改进,并将模拟结果与武汉大学VLF接收机实际观测到的NWC （North West Cape）台站信号幅度进行比较分析,结果表明改进后LWPC模型得到的幅度及变化趋势与实际值更加接近.LWPC模型给出的电子密度与IRI模型得到的电子密度在日间基本一致,但是在夜间存在差异,造成夜间部分区域NWC台站信号幅度的差异性,验证了电离层电子密度对于VLF信号传播具有的重要影响.传播路径上的晨昏变化也可以引起VLF信号幅度分布的突变,在日出和日落时间段内存在明显的过渡区域.基于IRI模型的LWPC,改善了VLF电波传播过程的预测分析效果,提供了一种长波导航通信质量的评估方法.