Open AccessNumerical study of mode conversion between lower hybrid and whistler waves on short‐scale density striations
Author(s) -
Eliasson B.,
Papadopoulos K.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2008ja013261
Subject(s) - whistler , striation , lower hybrid oscillation , ionosphere , physics , computational physics , wavelength , geophysics , optics , electron density , angle of incidence (optics) , wavenumber , electron , wave propagation , geology , paleontology , quantum mechanics , electromagnetic electron wave
We present a theoretical and numerical study of linear mode conversion of lower hybrid waves interacting with short‐scale density striations in the Earth's ionosphere. The efficiency of the conversion process is investigated for different sets of parameters such as the angle of incidence, the wavelength of the lower hybrid wave, and the size of the striation. It is found that the most efficient whistler generation occurs at a critical angle of incidence where the whistler waves are driven resonantly along the density striations, and when the product of the striation width and the wave number of the lower hybrid wave is of the order unity. It is suggested that whistlers generated as a byproduct of upper hybrid F‐region ionospheric heating can be observed on the ground and by satellites. The generated whistlers could be important for the precipitation of energetic electrons in the radiation belts.