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The polarization of auroral radio emissions
Author(s) -
Shepherd S. G.,
LaBelle J.,
Trimpi M. L.
Publication year - 1997
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 - 10.1029/97gl03160
Subject(s) - polarization (electrochemistry) , hiss , elliptical polarization , physics , whistler , magnetic field , circular polarization , computational physics , geophysics , atmospheric sciences , linear polarization , optics , electron , chemistry , laser , quantum mechanics
Ground level observations using two vertical loop antennas oriented at 90° to each other reveal the sense of polarization of several types of auroral radio emissions in the frequency range 30–5000 kHz. Auroral hiss is observed to be right elliptically polarized (RP) with respect to the local magnetic field, consistent with theoretical expectation for the whistler mode and with earlier measurements. Two less well‐understood auroral emissions, are found to be left elliptically polarized (LP). This polarization is inconsistent with their generation in the X‐mode as suggested by some theories.