High frequency radio emissions as a manifestation of physical processes in the auroral plasma

<p>The Earth’s auroral region and its close neighbourhood is the origin of strong radio emissions caused by complex physical plasma processes. Among them we can list auroral hiss, auroral roar, auroral medium frequency (MF) burst, and auroral kilometric radiation (AKR).  Analysis of such emissions can provide information about magnetospheric structure and dynamics. </p><p>In this work we present selected cases of Earth’s AKR-like radio emissions observed by RELEC  and mission at the top side ionosphere leyers. The emissions are seen at frequencies of the order of hundreds of kHz in the ionosphere, just below the auroral oval and  can be observed not only in disturbed geomagnetic conditions, but also during quiet periods. The maximum occurrence is at ∼ 75 ◦ invariant latitude and can have extent up to ∼ 11 ◦ in invariant latitude.</p><p> </p>

On-board hybrid magnetometer of NASA CHARM-II rocket: principle, design and performances

We present a hybrid tri-axes magnetometer designed to measure weak magnetic fields in space from DC (direct current) up to a few kHz with a better sensitivity than fluxgate magnetometers at frequencies above a few Hz. This magnetometer combines a wire-wound ferromagnetic ribbon and a classical induction sensor. The nature of the wire-wound ferromagnetic ribbon sensor, giant magneto-impedance or magneto-inductance, is discussed. New configurations of wire-wound ferromagnetic ribbon sensors based on closed magnetic circuits are suggested and the hybrid sensor is described. The electronic conditioning of the wire-wound ribbon makes use of an alternating bias field to cancel the offset and linearize the output. Finally we summarize the main performances of the hybrid magnetometer and we discuss its advantages and drawbacks. A prototype has been built and was part of the scientific payload of the NASA rocket experiment CHARM-II (Correlation of High Frequency and Auroral Roar Measurements) launched in the auroral ionosphere. Unfortunately the launch campaign ended without any noticeable magnetic event and the rocket was eventually launched on 16 February 2010, through a very quiescent arc in the magnetic cusp and no wave activity was detected at frequencies observable by the hybrid magnetometer.