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Electron phase‐space holes and the VLF saucer source region
Author(s) -
Ergun R. E.,
Carlson C. W.,
McFadden J. P.,
Strangeway R. J.,
Goldman M. V.,
Newman D. L.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2001gl013024
Subject(s) - electric field , physics , geophysics , satellite , flux tube , flux (metallurgy) , electron , electron precipitation , magnetic field , astrophysics , magnetosphere , magnetic flux , astronomy , materials science , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
The Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST) satellite has identified new properties of VLF saucers that are important to understanding their generation and the physical processes in the source region. The most significant finding is a frequent occurrence (∼79%) of electron phase‐space holes on flux tubes of the VLF saucer source in the downward current region. This finding implies either a common energy source or a direct association between the two phenomenon. FAST observations also demonstrate that VLF saucer vertices are strongly correlated with up‐going electron fluxes associated with diverging DC electric field structures. These observations imply parallel electric fields along the source flux tube of VLF saucers.