Global statistical evidence for chorus as the embryonic source of plasmaspheric hiss

Abstract

The origin of plasmaspheric hiss, the electromagnetic emission responsible for the gap between the inner and outer radiation belts, has been debated for over four decades. Recently, a new theory proposed that chorus, which is excited in the equatorial region outside the plasmapause, can propagate to low altitudes on the dayside and evolve into plasmaspheric hiss. Here we combine data from six satellites and show that chorus extends along the Earth's magnetic field to high latitudes in the prenoon sector, and, in the equatorial region, there is a clear gap of the order of 1-2 Earth radii between plasmaspheric hiss at L-<4 and chorus further out, consistent with ray tracing modeling from a chorus source. Our observations confirm two of the key predictions of the new theory and provide the first statistical evidence for chorus as the embryonic source of plasmaspheric hiss. Key Points Intense chorus extends to high latitudes in the pre-noon sector. There is a gap between equatorial hiss at L<4 and equatorial chorus further out. Source of hiss is chorus in the frequency range 0.1-0.3fce. ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.