loading page

Using VLF Transmitter Signals at LEO for Plasmasphere Model Validation
  • +3
  • Maria E. Usanova,
  • Riley A. Reid,
  • Wei Xu,
  • Robert Andrew Marshall,
  • Michael J Starks,
  • Gordon R. Wilson
Maria E. Usanova
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Riley A. Reid
University of Colorado Boulder
Author Profile
Wei Xu
University of Colorado Boulder
Author Profile
Robert Andrew Marshall
University of Colorado Boulder
Author Profile
Michael J Starks
Air Force Research Laboratory
Author Profile
Gordon R. Wilson
Air Force Research Laboratory
Author Profile

Abstract

This study presents analysis of very low frequency (VLF) transmitter signal measurements on the Very-Low-Frequency Propagation Mapper (VPM) CubeSat in low-Earth orbit. Six months of satellite operation provided good data coverage, used to build global statistical maps of VLF power distribution. The power distribution above four powerful transmitters is used as input for ray tracing to study signal propagation to the conjugate hemisphere in two plasmaspheric density models. The ray tracing results are further compared with VPM measurements to determine which model provides better agreement with observations. As ray propagation largely depends on the background plasma density distribution, this indirect method can be used for plasmaspheric density model validation as an alternative to multipoint in situ plasma measurements that may not be readily obtainable. In addition, it can be used to investigate Landau damping and ducted vs. non-ducted propagation of VLF signals.
Apr 2022Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics volume 127 issue 4. 10.1029/2022JA030345