Generation Mechanism of Low Latitude ELF Emissions

Abstract

Employing a realistic ionospheric model and suitable energetic electron spectra, intensity and growth rate calculations are done to know the generation mechanism of low latitude ELF emissions. It is found that the soft electrons radiating in the incoherent Cerenkov mode are not responsible for the generation of these emissions. In contrast to this, they are generated in the equatorial plane below <i>L</i> = 1.7 as a result of cyclotron resonance between whistler mode waves and the inner zone relativistic electrons having energy ~1-6 MeV with their greater probability of occurrence towards lower <i>L</i>-values.