Plasma Wave Investigation Research Articles

MEFISTO – An electric field instrument for BepiColombo/MMO

MEFISTO, together with the companion instrument WPT, are planning the first-ever in situ measurements of the electric field in the magnetosphere of planet Mercury. The instruments have been selected by JAXA for inclusion in the BepiColombo/MMO payload, as part of the Plasma Wave Investigation coordinated by Kyoto University. The magnetosphere of Mercury was discovered by Mariner 10 in 1974 and will be studied further by Messenger starting in 2011. However, neither spacecraft did or will measure the electric field. Electric fields are crucial in the dynamics of a magnetosphere and for the energy and plasma transport between different regions within the magnetosphere as well as between the magnetosphere and the surrounding regions. The MEFISTO instrument will be capable of measuring electric fields from DC to 3 MHz, and will thus also allow diagnostics of waves at all frequencies of relevance to the Hermean magnetosphere. MEFISTO is a double-probe electric field instrument. The double-probe technique has strong heritage and is well proven on missions such as Viking, Polar, and Cluster. For BepiColombo, a newly developed deployment mechanism is planned which reduces the mass by a factor of about 5 compared to conventional mechanisms for 15 m long booms. We describe the basic characteristics of the instrument and briefly discuss the new developments made to tailor the instrument to flight in Mercury orbit.

The Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation

The Cassini radio and plasma wave investigation is designed to study radio emissions, plasma waves, thermal plasma, and dust in the vicinity of Saturn. Three nearly orthogonal electric field antennas are used to detect electric fields over a frequency range from 1 Hz to 16 MHz, and three orthogonal search coil magnetic antennas are used to detect magnetic fields over a frequency range from 1 Hz to 12 kHz. A Langmuir probe is used to measure the electron density and temperature. Signals from the electric and magnetic antennas are processed by five receiver systems: a high frequency receiver that covers the frequency range from 3.5 kHz to 16 MHz, a medium frequency receiver that covers the frequency range from 24 Hz to 12 kHz, a low frequency receiver that covers the frequency range from 1 Hz to 26 Hz, a five-channel waveform receiver that covers the frequency range from 1 Hz to 2.5 kHz in two bands, 1 Hz to 26 Hz and 3 Hz to 2.5 kHz, and a wideband receiver that has two frequency bands, 60 Hz to 10.5 kHz and 800 Hz to 75 kHz. In addition, a sounder transmitter can be used to stimulate plasma resonances over a frequency range from 3.6 kHz to 115.2 kHz. Fluxes of micron-sized dust particles can be counted and approximate masses of the dust particles can be determined using the same techniques as Voyager. Compared to Voyagers 1 and 2, which are the only spacecraft that have made radio and plasma wave measurements in the vicinity of Saturn, the Cassini radio and plasma wave instrument has several new capabilities. These include (1) greatly improved sensitivity and dynamic range, (2) the ability to perform direction-finding measurements of remotely generated radio emissions and wave normal measurements of plasma waves, (3) both active and passive measurements of plasma resonances in order to give precise measurements of the local electron density, and (4) Langmuir probe measurements of the local electron density and temperature. With these new capabilities, it will be possible to perform a broad range of studies of radio emissions, wave-particle interactions, thermal plasmas and dust in the vicinity of Saturn.

An overview of observations by the Cassini radio and plasma wave investigation at Earth

On August 18, 1999, the Cassini spacecraft flew by Earth at an altitude of 1186 km on its way to Saturn. Although the flyby was performed exclusively to provide the spacecraft with sufficient velocity to get to Saturn, the radio and plasma wave science (RPWS) instrument, along with several others, was operated to gain valuable calibration data and to validate the operation of a number of capabilities. In addition, an opportunity to study the terrestrial radio and plasma wave environment with a highly capable instrument on a swift fly‐through of the magnetosphere was afforded by the encounter. This paper provides an overview of the RPWS observations at Earth, including the identification of a number of magnetospheric plasma wave modes, an accurate measurement of the plasma density over a significant portion of the trajectory using the natural wave spectrum in addition to a relaxation sounder and Langmuir probe, the detection of natural and human‐produced radio emissions, and the validation of the capability to measure the wave normal angle and Poynting flux of whistler‐mode chorus emissions. The results include the observation of a double‐banded structure at closest approach including a band of Cerenkov emission bounded by electron plasma and upper hybrid frequencies and an electron cyclotron harmonic band just above the second harmonic of the electron cyclotron frequency. In the near‐Earth plasma sheet, evidence for electron phase space holes is observed, similar to those first reported by Geotail in the magnetotail. The wave normal analysis confirms the Polar result that chorus is generated very close to the magnetic equator and propagates to higher latitudes. The integrated power flux of auroral kilometric radiation is also used to identify a series of substorms observed during the outbound passage through the magnetotail.

Tracing shock waves from the corona to 1 AU: Type II radio emission and relationship with CMEs

We report on 10 type II bursts observed with ground‐based spectrographs in the meter‐decameter range, and with the Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation on the Wind spacecraft from 13.8 to 0.01 MHz. We have selected events with contemporaneous observations of flares and of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) by Large‐Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) telescopes. We trace the history of each event from the time of the impulsive phase of the flare, the CME liftoff time, and the start time of the radio bursts. We derive the speed of the type II shock by using a coronal/solar wind density model, and the height‐time progression is compared with that of the CME as observed in the plane of the sky and then converted into the radial direction. For most events a shock at 1 AU was observed in situ. The results show the following: (1) All type II bursts occurred within 2 or 3 min of the impulsive phase of a flare. (2) The speeds of the disturbances from the time of the flares to the time of the shocks at 1 AU were very similar to the speeds of the type II‐emitting shocks; they were in the range of 600 to 1300 km s−1. (3) When the type II burst was observed far out in the solar wind, the progression of the type II source had about the same speed in the solar wind as in the corona. (4) The CME liftoffs were before the flares and the type II bursts by 1–24 min for most of the selected events. As a consequence, in the corona, the type II bursts, being behind the fronts of the CMEs, are usually blast waves. (5) When a shock and CME material are observed at 1 AU, the time of arrival implies a deceleration of the CME in the solar wind, as is observed in the LASCO data. (6) Somewhere in the solar wind the shocks very likely become piston‐driven, related to the CME.

First results from the Cluster wideband plasma wave investigation

Abstract. In this report we present the first results from the Cluster wideband plasma wave investigation. The four Cluster spacecraft were successfully placed in closely spaced, high-inclination eccentric orbits around the Earth during two separate launches in July – August 2000. Each spacecraft includes a wideband plasma wave instrument designed to provide high-resolution electric and magnetic field wave-forms via both stored data and direct downlinks to the NASA Deep Space Network. Results are presented for three commonly occurring magnetospheric plasma wave phenomena: (1) whistlers, (2) chorus, and (3) auroral kilometric radiation. Lightning-generated whistlers are frequently observed when the spacecraft is inside the plasmasphere. Usually the same whistler can be detected by all spacecraft, indicating that the whistler wave packet extends over a spatial dimension at least as large as the separation distances transverse to the magnetic field, which during these observations were a few hundred km. This is what would be expected for nonducted whistler propagation. No case has been found in which a strong whistler was detected at one spacecraft, with no signal at the other spacecraft, which would indicate ducted propagation. Whistler-mode chorus emissions are also observed in the inner region of the magnetosphere. In contrast to lightning-generated whistlers, the individual chorus elements seldom show a one-to-one correspondence between the spacecraft, indicating that a typical chorus wave packet has dimensions transverse to the magnetic field of only a few hundred km or less. In one case where a good one-to-one correspondence existed, significant frequency variations were observed between the spacecraft, indicating that the frequency of the wave packet may be evolving as the wave propagates. Auroral kilometric radiation, which is an intense radio emission generated along the auroral field lines, is frequently observed over the polar regions. The frequency-time structure of this radiation usually shows a very good one-to-one correspondence between the various spacecraft. By using the microsecond timing available at the NASA Deep Space Net-work, very-long-baseline radio astronomy techniques have been used to determine the source of the auroral kilometric radiation. One event analyzed using this technique shows a very good correspondence between the inferred source location, which is assumed to be at the electron cyclotron frequency, and a bright spot in the aurora along the magnetic field line through the source.Key words. Ionosphere (wave-particle interactions; wave propagation) – Magnetospheric physics (plasma waves and instabilities; instruments and techniques)

The Jovian HOM and bKOM radio emissions observed by Wind/WAVES and by Ulysses/URAP

During 1995 and into 1996, both the Jovian hectometric radio emission (HOM) and the Jovian broadband radio emission (bKOM) were received occasionally by the Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation (WAVES) on board the Wind spacecraft and by the Unified Radio and Plasma Experiment (URAP) on board the Ulysses spacecraft. Ulysses was then at distances of 5 AU or more from Jupiter and travelling from south to north of the ecliptic plane. At this distance from the planet, the events are generally weak and much care is needed to distinguish the HOM from weak solar type III emission and, in the Wind/WAVES observations, the bKOM from terrestrial auroral kilometric radiation (AKR). Characteristics of the emission, duration, frequency extent, structure and polarization give new information on the beaming and source location of the HOM and the bKOM. For the period studied, it was found that the bKOM events were observed by Ulysses when the spacecraft was at higher jovicentric latitudes, ( D Uly⩾15°) while HOM events were recorded when the spacecraft was at lower jovicentric latitudes, −12°⩽ D Uly⩽14°. Polarization measurements suggest that, due to beaming, LH polarized radiation from the southern Jovian hemisphere HOM source is beamed towards Ulysses at jovicentric latitudes to the north of some value between −11.7 and −5.3°. Conversely, RH polarized radiation from the northern hemisphere HOM source is beamed away from Ulysses at jovicentric latitudes to the north of some value between −11.7 and −5.3°. For the events studied, if a two-dimensional tilted dipole model is assumed, the emission cone half-angle appears to be about 44° for 940 kHz HOM emission from a source on L-shell about 10. There is no unique value for β that does not involve assumed values of L and f c (Barrow and Lecacheux, Astron. Astrophys. 301 (1995) 903.)

D0.3-0015 ducted auroral kilometric radiation and deep plasmaspheric ducts observed by the polar plasmawave investigation

D0.3-0015 ducted auroral kilometric radiation and deep plasmaspheric ducts observed by the polar plasmawave investigation

The Wide-Band Plasma Wave Investigation

As part of the Cluster Wave Experiment Consortium (WEC), the Wide-Band (WBD) Plasma Wave investigation is designed to provide high-resolution measurements of both electric and magnetic fields in selected frequency bands from 25 Hz to 577 kHz. Continuous waveforms are digitised and transmitted in either a 220 kbit s-1 real-time mode or a 73 kbit s-1 recorded mode. The real-time data are received directly by a NASA Deep-Space Network (DSN) receiving station, and the recorded data are stored in the spacecraft solid-state recorder for later playback. In both cases the waveforms are Fourier transformed on the ground to provide high-resolution frequency-time spectrograms. The WBD measurements complement those of the other WEC instruments and also provide a unique new capability for performing very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) measurements.

WAVES: The radio and plasma wave investigation on the wind spacecraft

The WAVES investigation on the WIND spacecraft will provide comprehensive measurements of the radio and plasma wave phenomena which occur in Geospace. Analyses of these measurements, in coordination with the other onboard plasma, energetic particles, and field measurements will help us understand the kinetic processes that are important in the solar wind and in key boundary regions of the Geospace. These processes are then to be interpreted in conjunction with results from the other ISTP spacecraft in order to discern the measurements and parameters for mass, momentum, and energy flow throughout geospace. This investigation will also contribute to observations of radio waves emitted in regions where the solar wind is accelerated. The WAVES investigation comprises several innovations in this kind of instrumentation: among which the first use, to our knowledge, of neural networks in real-time on board a scientific spacecraft to analyze data and command observation modes, and the first use of a wavelet transform-like analysis in real time to perform a spectral analysis of a broad band signal.

Voyager 2 plasma wave observations at Uranus

At Uranus, the Voyager 2 plasma wave investigation observed very significant phenomena related to radio emissions, dust impacts and magnetospheric wave-particle interactions. On January 19, 1986 (R= 270R U) the plasma wave investigation detected an intense radio burst at 31 and 56 kHz, and this provided the first indication that Uranus had a magnetosphere. During the encounter we observed more of these sporadic bursts, along with relatively continuous radio emissions extending down to 10 kHz, and a sporadic narrowband radio signal with f near 5 kHz. As Voyager passed through the ring plane, the plasma wave investigation recorded a large number of dust impacts. The dust ring was relatively diffuse (thickness of several thousand kilometers) and the peak impact rate was near 50 hits/second. The Voyager 2 plasma wave instrument also detected many strong electromagnetic and electrostatic plasma waves, with intensity peaks in the region within 12 Uranus adii. These waves have characteristics that can interact strongly with the local plasma and with the trapped energetic particles, leading to precipitation into the atmosphere, charged particle acceleration, and charged particle diffusion. In addition we detected strong wave activity in the region of the bow shock and moderate levels in the magnetic tail.

Comment on “Is Venus alive?”

The June 3, 1986 issue of Eos contains a Forum by Harry Taylor (National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Laboratory, Greenbelt, Md.) with a report on his latest speculations regarding Venus lightning and on his interpretation of certain measurements from the plasma wave investigation on the Pioneer Venus Orbiter. The same views have also been announced as recent discoveries by Taylor and an associate in interviews in Science News (April 5, 1986) and in New Scientist (May 15, 1986). In fact, many of the statements and interpretations in Taylor's letter (and in the interviews) are demonstrably wrong, and I want to correct the record for Eos readers.Taylor's discussion refers to a number of Pioneer Venus publications that appeared in various journals between 1979 and 1986. In these papers, my colleagues and I identified as whistler mode plasma waves certain low‐frequency impulses detected with an electric antenna at low altitudes during the Venus night. These Venus noise bursts have all the characteristics of whistlers from lightning, and this connection was discussed in all of the published papers.

The AMPTE/CCE Plasma Wave Investigation

The payload of the Charge Composition Explorer includes a small plasma wave instrument that is actually a modified version of the flight spare from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter. In this report the instrument characteristics are summarized and the in-flight performance is briefly described.

Initial results from the ISEE-1 and -2 plasma wave investigation

Initial results from the ISEE-1 and -2 plasma wave investigation

The ISEE-C Plasma Wave Investigation

The ISEE-C plasma wave investigation is designed to provide comprehensive information on interplanetary wave-particle interactions. Three spectrum analyzers with a total of 19 bandpass channels cover the frequency range 0.3 Hz to 100 kHz. The main analyzer, which uses 16 continuously active amplifiers, gives two complete spectral scans per second in each of 16 filter channels. The instrument sensors include a high-sensitivity magnetic search coil, and electric antennas with effective lengths of 0.6 and 45 m.

The ISEE-1 and ISEE-2 Plasma Wave Investigation

The ISEE-1 and ISEE-2 plasma wave investigation is designed to provide basic information on wave-particle interactions in the earth's magnetosphere and in the solar wind. The ISEE-1 plasma wave instrument uses three electric dipole antennas with lengths of 215, 73.5, and 0.61 m for electric-field measurements, and a triaxial search coil antenna for magnetic-field measurements. The ISEE-2 plasma wave instrument uses two electric dipoles with lengths of 30 and 0.61 m for electric-field measurements, and a single-axis search coil antenna for magnetic-field measurements. The ISEE-1 plasma wave instrumentation provides a comprehensive determination of wave characteristics over a broad frequency range, including high-frequency resolution spectrum scans, simultaneous high-time resolution electric- and magnetic-frequency-spectrum measurements, wave normal and Poynting flux measurements, and wide-band waveform measurements. The basic frequency range of the ISEE-1 measurements is 5.62 Hz-311 kHz, although wide-band waveform measurements can be made in selected frequency ranges up to 2.0 MHz using a special long baseline interferometer mode of operation. The ISEE-2 plasma wave instrumentation consists of a 16-channel spectrum analyzer covering the frequency range from 5.62 Hz to 31.1 kHz and a wide-band waveform receiver with the capability of making waveform measurements in selected frequency ranges up to 2.0 MHz.

A plasma wave investigation for the Voyager Mission

The Voyager Plasma Wave System (PWS) will provide the first direct information on wave-particle interactions and their effects at the outer planets. The data will give answers to fundamental questions on the dynamics of the Jupiter and Saturn magnetospheres and the properties of the distant interplanetary medium. Basic planetary dynamical processes are known to be associated with wave-particle interactions (for instance, solar wind particle heating at the bow shock, diffusion effects that allow magnetosheath plasma to populate the magnetospheres, various energization phenomena that convert thermal plasma of solar wind origin into trapped radiation, and precipitation mechanisms that limit the trapped particle populations). At Jupiter, plasma wave measurements will also lead to understanding of the key processes known to be involved in the decameter bursts such as the cooperative mechanisms that yield the intense radiation, the observed millisecond fine-structure, and the Io modulation effect. Similar phenomena should be associated with other planetary satellites or with Saturn's rings. Local diagnostic information (such as plasma densities) will be obtained from wave observations, and the PWS may detect lightning whistler evidence of atmospheric electrical discharges. The Voyager Plasma Wave System shares the 10-meter PRA antenna elements, and the signals are processed with a 16-channel spectrum analyzer, covering the range 10 Hz to 56 kHz. At selected times during the planetary encounters, the PWS broadband channel will operate with the Voyager video telemetry link to give complete electric field waveforms over the frequency range 50 Hz to 10 kHz.