A first approach to model the low-frequency wave activity in the plasmasphere

Abstract

Abstract. A comprehensive empirical model of waves is developed in the objective to simulate wave-particle interactions involved in the loss and acceleration of radiation belt electrons. Three years of measured magnetic wave field components from the Plasma Wave Instrument on board the DE-1 satellite are used to model the amplitude spectral density of the magnetic wave field of each type of emission observed in the equatorial regions of the plasmasphere: VLF transmitter emissions, chorus emissions, plasmaspheric hiss emissions and equatorial emissions below ~ 200 Hz. Each model is a function of the wave frequency f , the MLT, L and Mlat parameters, and the Kp values. The performances of the plasmaspheric hiss and chorus models are tested on amplitude spectra recorded on board the OGO-5 and GEOS-1 satellites.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (plasmasphere; plasma waves and instabilities; instruments and techniques)