Thermal effects on ion-acoustic whistlers in the ionosphere in the presence of negative ions

Abstract

In this paper, the thermal effects in the presence of negative ions are included in the evaluation of the group travel time of an ion-cyclotron whistler from its source to an observer in a satellite. The velocity distribution function and the relative wave amplitude of the magnetic field have been estimated theoretically from the cyclotron damping of the whistlers. Comparison of the results with those of Das et al. and Das and Sur shows that negative ions and thermal effects have important contributions to the propagation of whistlers in the ionosphere. An outline of possible applications is given for the study of space plasma problems.