Abstract
A 'ghost' whistler group is one that follows a similar whistler group
after a fixed and repeating time interval. This phenomenon was observed
at Marion Island in the southern hemisphere. During a ninety minute
period 11 whistler groups were followed, after a time interval of 600
ms, by 'ghost' groups. An explanation of this non-random time delay is
that a component of the first group, on its way to the southern
hemisphere resonates with counter-streaming electrons, close to the
equatorial plane, causing some of them to diffuse in pitch angle and
precipitate into the northern atmosphere. Entering the atmosphere the
electrons trigger by some means, a second atmospheric discharge that
produces the 'ghost' group. If this explanation is correct then the time
delay between a 'ghost' and its whistler should vary with latitude. In
this paper we calculate these time delays as a function of latitude. If
'ghosts' are found with delays that corresponded to these values it
would be a powerful verification of the theory.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2619-2624 |
Journal | Advances in Space Research |
Volume | 30 |
Publication status | Published - 2002 |