Statistical Properties of Broadband ELF Electric Field Fluctuations Associated with Ion Acceleration and Outflow as Observed by the Fast Satellite

Summary form only given. Broadband ELF (BBELF) electric field fluctuations are commonly observed in association with ion acceleration and outflow from the terrestrial auroral zone and ionosphere. These fluctuations are the conduit by which energy is transferred from macroscopic field and current systems to the ambient ion populations, and are thus an important part of the mass and energy flow between the magnetosphere and ionosphere. We will review the current state of the observations of BBELF and ion acceleration as found on sounding rockets and satellites. In particular, we will focus on and present the observations of BBELF by the FAST satellite, which has found that the BBELF phenomenon at intermediate altitudes (3000-4000 km) is due primarily to low-frequency (f_ci
), short-wavelength (L
_perp
Ltelectron skin depth) fluctuations that are Doppler-shifted into the ELF frequency band by spacecraft motion. This has important ramifications for theories of both the source of the BBELF, as well as its interactions with the ambient ion populations, as it rules out temporal turbulence and simple gyro-resonant mechanisms, respectively