An experimental study of very‐low‐frequency mode coupling and polarization reversal
Rodriguez, Paul; Gurnett, Donald A.
Журнал:
Journal of Geophysical Research
Дата:
1971
Аннотация:
Below the proton gyrofrequency, both polarization reversal and mode coupling of the right‐ and left‐hand modes of propagation can occur. In this paper an experimental study of polarization reversal and mode coupling of electron and proton whistlers is presented. The occurrence of polarization reversal for a whistler signal observed in the ionosphere is indicated by the presence of a proton whistler. Mode coupling between the right‐ and left‐hand modes of propagation is indicated by the occurrence of both electron and proton whistler signals at the same frequency. Mode coupling is observed to occur most frequently over a range of about 35°–55° magnetic latitude. Below about 35° magnetic latitude, polarization reversal is the predominant effect, whereas above about 55° magnetic latitude neither mode coupling nor polarization reversal occur and proton whistlers are not observed. These results are compared with existing theories to explain this latitude dependence.
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