Magnetospheric properties deduced from OGO 1 observations of ducted and nonducted whistlers

The OGO 1 satellite has yielded evidence for both ducted and nonducted modes of whistler propagation in the magnetosphere. Two new types of nonducted whistlers have been identified: the ‘magnetospherically reflected’ whistler and the ‘Nu’ whistler. These whistlers have never been observed on the ground. Their unique properties result in part from the presence of ions that permit reflection of whistler-mode energy in the magnetosphere. These phenomena provide a new tool for study of the distribution of ionization in the magnetosphere. Ducted whistlers from OGO 1 have provided the first in situ observations of whistler ducts. Near L = 3, the equatorial separations between ducts ranged from 50 to 500 km, and the equatorial thicknesses were about 400 km. The analysis yielded independent experimental support for the diffusive equilibrium model of distribution of ionization along the field lines in the plasmasphere. Some evidence was found of distortion of the magnetic field on the nightside at L ∼ 3, possibly due to oblique incidence of the solar wind on the earth's field.