IMAGE/RPI Electron-Density Determinations in Various Magnetospheric Domains

R. F. Benson, J. L. Green, P. A. Webb (Nomad Res., Inc.) NASA/Goddard Space
Flight Center Greenbelt, MD 20771

D. L. Carpenter Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305

B. W. Reinisch University of Massachusetts, Lowell Lowell, MA 10854


The Radio Plasma Imager (RPI) on the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora
Global Exploration (IMAGE) satellite has a remote-measuring capability that
leads to large-scale descriptions of the magnetospheric electron density Ne
(see, e.g., Reinisch et al. [2004]). It also has accurate local Ne measuring
capability based on sounder-stimulated plasma resonances [Benson et al.,
2003]. Here we will only discuss the latter capability. We will illustrate
how it can be used to determine the local Ne as IMAGE traverses
magnetospheric domains ranging from deep within the plasmasphere to near,
and even beyond, the magnetopause.  The spectrum of sounder-stimulated
plasma resonances can vary considerably in the different regions. In some
cases, the identifications of the resonances are aided by the reception of
emissions of magnetospheric and solar origin, and visa versa.

Benson, R. F., V. A. Osherovich, J. Fainberg, and B. W. Reinisch,
Classification of IMAGE/RPI-stimulated plasma resonances for the accurate
determination of magnetospheric electron-density and magnetic field values,
J. Geophys. Res., 108(A5), 1207, doi:10.1029/2002JA009589, 2003.

Reinisch, B. W., X. Huang, P. Song, J. L. Green, S. F. Fung, V. M.
Vasyliunas, D. L. Gallagher, and B. R. Sandel, Plasmaspheric mass loss and
refilling as a result of a magnetic storm, J. Geophys. Res., 109, A01202,
doi:10.1029/2003JA009948, 2004.

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Presentation, Fall A.G.U. Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 13-17 December 2004