The formation and lifetime of whistler ducts |
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| Authors: | RJ Thomson |
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| Institution: | Physics Department, University of Otago, P. O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand |
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| Abstract: | It is assumed that whistler ducts are formed by electric fields interchanging magnetospheric flux tubes of ionization. It is found that such ducts end several hundred kilometres above the transition level, that is usually in the altitude range of 1000–1500 km. Further, the enhancement factor is found to increase towards the equator if the background density has little latitudinal variation. Both of the above properties make such ducts ideal for trapping whistlers.The half-life of whistler ducts is estimated to be of the order of one day. During quiet times ducts decay through enhanced plasma flow into the underlying ionosphere, whereas during storm times, when the plasmasphere is depleted of ionization, large upward plasma flows reduce the enhancement factors of ducts. |
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