An observation linking the origin of plasmaspheric hiss to discrete chorus emissions.
A long-standing problem in the field of space physics has been the origin of plasmaspheric hiss, a naturally occurring electromagnetic wave in the high-density plasmasphere (roughly within 20,000 kilometers of Earth) that is known to remove the high-energy Van Allen Belt electrons that pose a threat to satellites and astronauts. A recent theory tied the origin of plasmaspheric hiss to a seemingly different wave in the outer magnetosphere, but this theory was difficult to test because of a challenging set of observational requirements. Here we report on the experimental verification of the theory, made with a five-satellite NASA mission. This confirmation will allow modeling of plasmaspheric hiss and its effects on the high-energy radiation environment.
Bortnik
J
J
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. jbortnik@gmail.com
Li
W
W
Thorne
R M
RM
Angelopoulos
V
V
Cully
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C
Bonnell
J
J
Le Contel
O
O
Roux
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A