Very low frequency (VLF) signals detected in the nightside ionosphere of Venus have generally been attributed to atmospheric lightning. However it has recently been suggested that these bursts could be generated by either whistler-mode or lower hybrid drift instabilities. It has previously been shown that the growth rate for whistler-mode instabilities in the nightside ionosphere is too small for appreciable growth at altitudes less than 200 km, where the VLF burst rate is highest. We show that the bursts are usually observed in regions of low electron beta, where whistler-mode attenuation is small. We further show that many of the bursts are detected in regions of high collision frequency, which stabilizes the lower hybrid drift instability. Lastly, the waves are also detected in regions where the wavelength required for Doppler-shift of lower hybrid waves to 100 Hz is shorter than the electron Larmor radius, which also argues against a lower hybrid drift instability. Planetary lightning is consequently a more likely source for the VLF bursts.


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    Titel :

    An assessment of plasma instabilities or planetary lightning as a source for the VLF bursts detected at Venus


    Beteiligte:

    Erschienen in:

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    01.04.1995



    Medientyp :

    Sonstige


    Format :

    Keine Angabe


    Sprache :

    Englisch




    An Assessment of Plasma Instabilities or Planetary Lightning as a Source for the VLF Bursts Detected at Venus

    Strangeway, R. J. / International Council of Scientific Unions; Committee on Space Research | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995


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    Ho, C.-M. / Strangeway, R. J. / Russell, C. T. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995


    Venus planetary lightning rate as deduced from VLF bursts

    Ho, C.-M. / Strangeway, R. J. / Russell, C. T. | NTRS | 1995


    Lightning on Venus

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    Lightning on Venus

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