Pierrette M. E. Decreau

WHISPER, A Resonance Sounder and Wave Analyser: Performances and Perspectives for the Cluster Mission

The WHISPER sounder on the Cluster spacecraft is primarily designed to provide an absolute measurement of the total plasma density within the range 0.2–80 cm-3. This is achieved by means of a resonance sounding technique which has already proved successful in the regions to be explored. The wave analysis function of the instrument is provided by FFT calculation. Compared with the swept frequency wave analysis of previous sounders, this technique has several new capabilities. In particular, when used for natural wave measurements (which cover here the 2–80 kHz range), it offers a flexible trade-off between time and frequency resolutions. In the basic nominal operational mode, the density is measured every 28 s, the frequency and time resolution for the wave measurements are about 600 Hz and 2.2 s, respectively. Better resolutions can be obtained, especially when the spacecraft telemetry is in burst mode. Special attention has been paid to the coordination of WHISPER operations with the wave instruments, as well as with the low-energy particle counters. When operated from the multi-spacecraft Cluster, the WHISPER instrument is expected to contribute in particular to the study of plasma waves in the electron foreshock and solar wind, to investigations about small-scale structures via density and high-frequency emission signatures, and to the analysis of the non-thermal continuum in the magnetosphere.

Observations of the relationship between frequency sweep rates of chorus wave packets and plasma density

[1] Chorus emissions are generated by a nonlinear mechanism involving wave‐particle interactions with energetic electrons. Discrete chorus wave packets are narrowband tones usually rising (sometimes falling) in frequency. We investigate frequency sweep rates of chorus wave packets measured by the Wideband data (WBD) instrument onboard the Cluster spacecraft. In particular, we study the relationship between the sweep rates and the plasma density measured by the WHISPER active sounder. We have observed increasing values of the sweep rate for decreasing plasma densities. We have compared our results with results of simulations of triggered emissions as well as with estimates based on the backward wave oscillator model for chorus emissions. We demonstrate a reasonable agreement of our experimental results with theoretical ones. Citation: Macusova, E., et al. (2010), Observations of the relationship between frequency sweep rates of chorus wave packets and plasma density,

Cluster and DMSP observations of SAID electric fields

[1] We report on magnetically conjugate Cluster and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite observations of subauroral ion drifts (SAID) during moderate geomagnetic activity levels on 8 April 2004. To our knowledge, the field-aligned separation of DMSP and Cluster (%28,000 km) is the largest separation ever analyzed with respect to the SAID phenomenon. Nonetheless, we show coherent, subauroral magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) coupling along an entire field line in the post-dusk sector. The four Cluster satellites crossed SAID electric field channels with meridional magnitude E M of 25 mV/m in situ and latitudinal extent DL % 0.5° in the southern and northern hemispheres near 07:00 and 07:30 UT, respectively. Cluster was near perigee (R % 4 R E) and within 5° (15°) of the magnetic equator for the southern (northern) crossing. The SAID were located near the plasmapause—within the ring current-plasmasphere overlap region. Downward field-aligned current signatures were observed across both SAID crossings. The most magnetically and temporally conjugate SAID field from DMSP F16A at 07:12 UT was practically identical in latitudinal size to that mapped from Cluster. Since the DMSP ion drift meter saturated at 3000 m/s (or

Parametric analysis of positive amplitude electron acoustic solitary waves in a magnetized plasma and its application to boundary layers

114 mV/m) and the electrostatically mapped value for E M from Cluster exceeded 300 mV/m, a magnitude comparison of E M was not possible. Although the conjugate measurements show similar large-scale SAID features, the differences in substructure highlight the physical and chemical diversity of the conjugate regions.

Electron Density and Temperature, as Measured by the Mutual Impedance Experiment on Board GEOS-1

Received 27 August 2007; revised 5 November 2007; accepted 19 December 2007; published 20 June 2008. [1] The existence domain of a fully nonlinear positive amplitude electron acoustic solitary wave has been studied in a four-component plasma composed of warm magnetized electrons, warm electron beam, and energetic multi-ion species with ions hotter than the electrons (Ti > Te). A Sagdeev pseudopotential technique has been used to obtain the nonlinear evolution equation for the wave propagating obliquely with the ambient magnetic field. It is observed that the ion temperatures and concentrations play a crucial role in determining the characteristics and the existence domain of the electron acoustic solitary wave. With a large cold ion population and/or a large cold to hot ion temperature ratio, the plasma tends to behave like a single ion-dominated one. The corresponding Sagdeev pseudopotential shows an extremely narrow and deep profile producing small-amplitude, narrow width, spiky solitary waves. Such solutions are found to be applicable in the bow shock, magnetosheath, and cusp regions. Comparison with CLUSTER observations agrees well with the analytical model. It has been shown that in the magnetosheath, cooler He 2+ ions are necessary to produce a positive polarity solution while a hotter species may produce a compressive (negative polarity) solution.

The WHISPER Relaxation Sounder and the CLUSTER Active Archive

The mutual impedance experiment on GEOS-1 provides an original diagnostic of the thermal electron population. The electron density N e , and temperature T e , are derived from the plasma frequency and Debye length, the values of which determine the shape of the frequency dependent mutual impedance curves. The existing limits of the method are pointed out. They may be instrumental or arise from a lack of theoretical development, for instance when the steady magnetic field or the drift velocity of the plasma cannot be neglected. Nevertheless, first geophysical results have been derived, using measurements obtained on the dayside of the equatorial magnetosphere where most of the data enter within the above limits. In particular, we have drawn a map of the dayside magnetosphere, in terms of densities, Debye lengths, temperatures, at geocentric distances of 4 to 7 Earth radii. The conventional shape of the plasmasphere is recognized, but the temperatures obtained are lower than expected (~2 eV at apogee, outside the plasmasphere). The influence of the magnetic activity on apogee measurements is reported: N e values and A m indices are shown to be correlated, but it is not the case for T e and A m . Finally, detailed T e and N e profiles are shown, and the presence of a plasmapause boundary is discussed.

Multi-point Cluster Observations of VLF Risers, Fallers, and Hooks at and near the Plasmapause.

The Waves of HIgh frequency and Sounder for Probing of Electron density by Relaxation (WHISPER) instrument is part of the Wave Experiment Consortium (WEC) of the CLUSTER mission. With the help of the long double sphere antennae of the Electric Field and Wave (EFW) instrument and the Digital Wave Processor (DWP), it delivers active (sounding) and natural (transmitter off) electric field spectra, respectively from 4 to 82 kHz, and from 2 to 80 kHz. These frequency ranges have been chosen to include the electron plasma frequency, which is closely related to the total electron density, in most of the regions encountered by the CLUSTER spacecraft. Presented here is an overview of the WHISPER data products available in the CLUSTER Active Archive (CAA). The instrument and its performance are first recalled. The way the WHISPER products are obtained is then described, with particular attention being paid to the density determination. Both sounding and natural measurements are commonly used in this process, which depends on the ambient plasma regime. This is illustrated using drawings similar to the Bryant plots commonly used in the CLUSTER master science plan. These give a clear overview of typical density values and the parts of the orbits where they are obtained. More information on the applied software or on the quality/reliability of the density determination can also be highlighted.

The potential of an electrostatically clean geostationary satellite and its use in plasma diagnostics

The four Cluster Wideband (WBD) plasma wave receivers occasionally observe electromagnetic triggered wave emissions at and near the plasmapause. We present the remarkable cases of such observations. These triggered emissions consist of very fine structured VLF risers, fallers and hooks in the frequency range of 1.5 to 3.5 kHz with frequency drifts for the risers on the order of 1 kHz/s. They appear to be triggered out of the background whistler mode waves (hiss) that are usually observed in this region, as well as from narrowband, constant frequency emissions. Occasionally, identical, but weaker, emissions are seen to follow the initial triggered emissions. When all the Cluster spacecraft are relatively close (<800 km, with interspacecraft separations of around 100–200 km), the triggered emissions are correlated across all the spacecraft. The triggered emissions reported here are observed near the perigee of the Cluster spacecraft (around 4–5 RE) within about 20 degrees, north or south, of the magnetic equator at varying magnetic local times and generally at times of low to moderate Kp. In at least one case they have been observed to be propagating toward the magnetic equator at group velocities on the order of 5−9×107 m/s. The triggered emissions are observed in the region of steep density gradient either leading up to or away from the plasmasphere where small-scale density cavities are often encountered. Through analysis of images from the EUV instrument on board the IMAGE spacecraft, we provide evidence that Cluster may sometimes be immersed in a low density channel or other complex structure at the plasmapause when it observes the triggered emissions. Examples of the various types of triggered emissions are provided which show the correlations across spacecraft. Supporting density data are included in order to determine the location of the plasmapause. A nonlinear gyroresonance wave-particle interaction mechanism is discussed as one possible generation mechanism.

On the simultaneity of substorm onset between two hemispheres

Abstract Electrostatic charging has given rise to problems on several geostationary spacecraft. This has led to a rigorous electrostatic cleanliness approach in the case of the scientific geostationary satellite GEOS in order to secure correct electric field and low energy plasma measurements. The present paper outlines the relevant charging mechanism, describes a new method for the determination of the equilibrium potential, and reports on actual potential measurements. The potentials observed are very closely related to the actual plasma conditions at the geostationary orbit. It is generally possible to use the potential measurements to characterize the particle population encountered by the spacecraft. Measurements carried out over a period of 4 years are presented by way of examples. A careful analysis shows that the chosen examples are representative and reflect the conditions observed on all other days of the mission. The results lead to the overall conclusion that the equilibrium potential of GEOS in sunlight is always moderately positive and only rarely exceeds + 10 V with respect to ambient space. At no instance in the sunlit portion of the orbit does the spacecraft assume a negative potential. We find that the observed moderate positive equilibrium potential generally is a function of cold plasma density. During the night and early morning part of the orbit we can, however, identify periods where the high energy particle population dictates the equilibrium potential. The electrostatic cleanliness design of GEOS avoids negative charging also under these conditions. In eclipse, a negative potential cannot be avoided but here the electrostatic cleanliness approach chosen for GEOS prevents any differential charging and avoids potentials of several thousand volts which have appeared on other satellites. The cost, in time and effort, of the precautions employed has clearly been justified. The specially developed techniques have since been used on other satellites and the lessons learned have also been applied successfully to operational spacecraft such as METEOSAT 2.

Cluster observations of EMIC triggered emissions in association with Pc1 waves near Earth's plasmapause

Simultaneous observations of auroral kilometric radiation from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres showed some cases in which the buildup of field-aligned acceleration occurred only in one hemisphere at the substorm onset. This indicates that a substorm does not always complete the current system by connecting the cross-tail current with both northern and southern ionospheric currents. Conjugate auroral observations showed that in one case, the auroral breakup in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres was not simultaneous; rather, they occurred a few minutes apart. This time difference in the breakup between two hemispheres suggests that the local auroral ionosphere controls auroral breakup in each hemisphere independently. The evidence in this study may indicate that the buildup of the field-aligned acceleration region at the auroral breakup does not result only from the magnetospheric process and that the auroral ionosphere finally controls and/or ignites the substorm onset, that is, the auroral breakup.