Initial results from the search coil magnetometer at Siple, Antarctica

Abstract

Micropulsations were observed at Siple, Antarctica, throughout 1973. The results of this brief examination of the data generally agree with previous studies. The search coil magnetometer used is most sensitive in the Pc 1 frequency range, where its sensitivity approaches the natural background noise. The data are taken on computer-compatible magnetic tape, facilitating computer processing. One Pc 1 micropulsation event was examined in detail. Well-known morphological characteristics of Pc 1 were found along with the result that during the event a rotation of the principal plane of polarization into or out of the H, D plane is common. Dispersion analyses of the Pc 1 event allowed a determination of the L value of the magnetospheric propagation path (6.1–6.3) and the equatorial electron density (3.1–6.4 cm−3).