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Ring Current Effect on Magnetospheric Electron Density Profiles derived from Plasmapause Whistlers

Nature volume 237, pages 508–510 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

THE longitudinal drift of van Allen radiation belt charged particles, with opposite charges drifting in opposite directions in the geomagnetic field, constitutes a westward directed ring current at a distance of several Earth radii1. Although at magnetically quiet times this current scarcely neither reduces the geomagnetic field nor affects the parameters that determine the group velocity of a whistler mode signal propagating along a particular field line, these can be significantly changed at magnetically active times, for example during the main and recovery phases of a magnetic storm, when the ring current is stronger2.

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References

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Author notes

  1. JOSÉ L. SAGREDO

    Present address: Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespatial, Madrid, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Southampton,

    ASHOK MATHUR & MICHAEL J. RYCROFT

  2. Department of Physics, University of Sheffield,

    JOSÉ L. SAGREDO

Authors
  1. ASHOK MATHUR
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  2. MICHAEL J. RYCROFT
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  3. JOSÉ L. SAGREDO
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MATHUR, A., RYCROFT, M. & SAGREDO, J. Ring Current Effect on Magnetospheric Electron Density Profiles derived from Plasmapause Whistlers. Nature 237, 508–510 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/237508b0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/237508b0

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