Preliminary results from the MEMO multicomponent measurements of waves on-board INTERBALL 2

Abstract

The MEMO (MEsure Multicomposante des Ondes) experiment is a part of theINTERBALL 2 wave consortium. It is connected to a total of six electric and nine magnetic independent sensors. It provides waveforms associated with the measurement of two to five components in three frequency bands: ELF (5–1000 Hz), VLF (1–20 kHz), LF (20–250 kHz). Preliminary analyses of low and high resolution data are presented. The emphasis is put on the estimation of the propagation characteristics of the observed waves. VLF hiss emissions are shown to be mainly whistler mode emissions, but other modes are present. An accurate estimation of the local plasma frequency is proposed when the low L = 0 cutoff frequency is identified. AKR emissions observed just above source regions are studied. R-X and L-O modes are found: the first at the lowest frequencies and the second at the highest. Both propagate with wave normal directions weakly oblique or quasi-parallel to the Earth’s magnetic field direction. Propagation characteristics are also determined for a (non-drifting) fine structure of AKR. There is no fundamental difference with structurless events. Night-side and dayside bursts of ELF electromagnetic emissions are presented. It is not clear whether the two emissions belong to the “lion roar” emissions or not.