Open AccessA simple model of the auroral kilometric radiation visibility
Author(s) -
Schreiber R.
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1029/2004ja010903
Subject(s) - visibility , directivity , observer (physics) , physics , radiation , optics , spectrum analyzer , computational physics , spectral line , simple (philosophy) , computer science , astronomy , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , antenna (radio) , philosophy , epistemology
Examples of data collected with Polrad swept frequency analyzer during almost 2.5 years of Interball‐2 mission are used to demonstrate directivity properties of the auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) observed in the Northern Hemisphere. In contrast to the previous, mostly statistical studies, single dynamic spectra have been analyzed. Simple modeling of AKR source visibility from the location of the observer reproduces the overall form of the dynamic spectrum with a single set of AKR source parameters valid during up to tens of minutes. Cases of filled and partially filled emission cones as well as smaller emission cones embedded in the main cone are found. Anisotropic AKR beams as thin as 10° and sometimes narrower are consistent with our model.