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The measurement of wavelength in space plasmas
Author(s) -
LaBelle J.,
Kintner P. M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg027i004p00495
Subject(s) - wavelength , physics , magnetosphere , plasma , spacecraft , computational physics , waves in plasmas , shock wave , series (stratigraphy) , bow shock (aerodynamics) , optics , geophysics , geology , mechanics , astronomy , paleontology , quantum mechanics
A plasma wave can be described by its frequency and wave vector, while a nonlinear plasma structure such as a solitary wave can be described by its temporal signature and scale size. Time series or frequency measurements are relatively easy to perform from spacecraft, but wavelength or scale size measurements are difficult. Nevertheless, direct measurements of wavelength have contributed to understanding plasma waves and fluctuations; for example, such measurements have established the widespread existence of spatial irregularities in the magnetosphere, determined the characteristics of waves upstream of the Earth's bow shock, and allowed the size and motion of double‐layer‐like structures along auroral field lines to be inferred. In this paper we review progress in making measurements of wavelength and scale sizes. The different techniques for inferring wavelength are described, and then a series of case studies is considered to demonstrate applications.