THE AURORAL RADIATING PLASMA CAVITIES

The electron density profile of the nightside high latitude region has been determined from a geocentric distance 1.5 R(E) to 3 R(E) by the use of the Viking Langmuir probe. Inside this region, density depletions are observed. Most of them coincide with acceleration structure crossings. Generation of Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) is observed in the strongest depletions between 1.5 and 2.5 R(E). A threshold on the ratio plasma to electron gyrofrequency for AKR generation to occur is estimated at 0.14. This is in good agreement with the cyclotron maser instability theory for AKR generation.