Polarization, fine structure and occurrence rates of ground-level AKR

Auroral Kilometric Radiation is the most powerful natural radio emission from Earth's environment, carrying away up to a percent of the energy of the aurora. Our group and others have found evidence that the radiation is not only beamed away from the Earth, as previously known, but occasionally leaks to low altitudes. We have experiments in place at several locations, primarily in Antarctica, to measure the polarization and fine structure of these leaked AKR emissions, which should help establish that they indeed are related to the AKR observed in space and should provide clues about the mechanism by which the energy penetrates the ionosphere to reach the ground.

FACULTY CONTACT: James LaBelle