Wave dispersion and the discrete aurora: New constraints derived from high‐speed imagery
Authors:
- 11 December 2008
- journal article
- Published by American Geophysical Union (AGU) in Journal of Geophysical Research
- Vol. 113 (A12)
Abstract
An analysis of multiscale observations of a substorm auroral breakup are presented which clarify the role of wave dispersion in the formation of elemental (B⊥ projection of the parallel electric field within the Alfvén resonant cone. Prebreakup observations are found to be qualitatively consistent with this model. However, some difficulties are encountered for the more active postbreakup period. The article includes a discussion of perspective considerations in interpreting small‐scale auroral features; in particular, it is shown that the “rayed” appearance of discrete breakup aurora is, in fact, a consequence of sharply kinked sheets viewed obliquely.Keywords
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