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A wave model for the aurora
Author(s) -
Bingham R.,
Bryant D. A.,
Hall D. S.
Publication year - 1984
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/gl011i004p00327
Subject(s) - physics , particle acceleration , acceleration , computational physics , wave propagation , electron , geophysics , mechanical wave , longitudinal wave , classical mechanics , optics , quantum mechanics
A wave‐particle interaction model is proposed for the electron acceleration that leads to discrete aurora. Measurements of accelerated electrons are used to deduce the wave spectrum and the nature of the waves responsible for acceleration. The waves are identified as lower‐hybrid waves. Generation of the waves by various free energy sources is considered and the wave energy required to account for the aurora is calculated and compared with observations.