Computer simulation of Alfvén waves and double layers along auroral magnetic field lines

1994 ◽  
Vol 99 (A4) ◽  
pp. 6351 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Silberstein ◽  
N. F. Otani
1999 ◽  
Vol 104 (A5) ◽  
pp. 10159-10175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew N. Wright ◽  
W. Allan ◽  
R. D. Elphinstone ◽  
L. L. Cogger

2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. WEBB ◽  
Q. HU ◽  
B. DASGUPTA ◽  
G. P. ZANK

AbstractDouble Alfvén wave solutions of the magnetohydrodynamic equations in which the physical variables (the gas density ρ, fluid velocity u, gas pressure p, and magnetic field induction B) depend only on two independent wave phases ϕ1(x,t) and ϕ2(x,t) are obtained. The integrals for the double Alfvén wave are the same as for simple waves, namely, the gas pressure, magnetic pressure, and group velocity of the wave are constant. Compatibility conditions on the evolution of the magnetic field B due to changes in ϕ1 and ϕ2, as well as constraints due to Gauss's law ∇ · B = 0 are discussed. The magnetic field lines and hodographs of B in which the tip of the magnetic field B moves on the sphere |B| = B = const. are used to delineate the physical characteristics of the wave. Hamilton's equations for the simple Alfvén wave with wave normal n(ϕ), and with magnetic induction B(ϕ) in which ϕ is the wave phase, are obtained by using the Frenet–Serret equations for curves x=X(ϕ) in differential geometry. The use of differential geometry of 2D surfaces in a 3D Euclidean space to describe double Alfvén waves is briefly discussed.


2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
DMITRI Yu. KLIMUSHKIN ◽  
PAVEL N. MAGER

The paper is concerned with the influence of magnetic field shear on the structure of Alfvén waves standing along field lines in the one-dimensionally inhomogeneous box model of the magnetosphere, enclosed between two parallel, infinitely conducting planes (ionospheres). We consider the transverse small-scale Alfvén waves whose azimuthal component of the wave vector $k_y$ satisfies the condition $k_y l\,{\gg}\,1$, where $l$ is the distance between the ionospheres. For this model, the Alfvén resonance condition has been established. It is shown that resonance can also occur at a constant Alfvén velocity if the field-line inclination to the ionosphere is changed. On resonant magnetic shells there occurs a singularity of the wave field of the same kind as in the absence of shear. Moreover, there are found many resemblances between Alfvén-wave behavior in our one-dimensionally inhomogeneous model and in two-dimensional inhomogeneous models with plasma and magnetic field parallel inhomogeneity taken into account. Thus, the presence of shear leads to a difference of the frequencies of poloidal and toroidal oscillations of field lines, and to the dependence of the wave's frequency on the transversal components of wave vector. Then, in the sheared magnetic field with highly conductive boundaries the source excites multiple standing Alfvén harmonics at different locations. In general, the localization regions of different longitudinal harmonics overlap. However, in the small but finite shear limit, a total wave field represents a set of mutually isolated transparent regions corresponding to different harmonic numbers. In each of these regions the waves are found to be travelling across the magnetic shells, and the transparent region is limited in the coordinate $x$ by two turning points, at one of which the mode is poloidally polarized, and the other point it is toroidally polarized (it is at this latter point where Alfvén resonance occurs). Furthermore, the phase velocity of the wave is directed toward the poloidal point, and the group velocity is directed at the toroidal point.


2015 ◽  
Vol 120 (12) ◽  
pp. 10,384-10,403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazue Takahashi ◽  
Colin Waters ◽  
Karl-Heinz Glassmeier ◽  
Craig A. Kletzing ◽  
William S. Kurth ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 3699-3713 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Grison ◽  
F. Sahraoui ◽  
B. Lavraud ◽  
T. Chust ◽  
N. Cornilleau-Wehrlin ◽  
...  

Abstract. On 23 March 2002, the four Cluster spacecraft crossed in close configuration (~100 km separation) the high-altitude (10 RE) cusp region. During a large part of the crossing, the STAFF and EFW instruments have detected strong electromagnetic wave activity at low frequencies, especially when intense field-aligned proton fluxes were detected by the CIS/HIA instrument. In all likelihood, such fluxes correspond to newly-reconnected field lines. A focus on one of these ion injection periods highlights the interaction between waves and protons. The wave activity has been investigated using the k-filtering technique. Experimental dispersion relations have been built in the plasma frame for the two most energetic wave modes. Results show that kinetic Alfvén waves dominate the electromagnetic wave spectrum up to 1 Hz (in the spacecraft frame). Above 0.8 Hz, intense Bernstein waves are also observed. The close simultaneity observed between the wave and particle events is discussed as an evidence for local wave generation. A mechanism based on current instabilities is consistent with the observations of the kinetic Alfvén waves. A weak ion heating along the recently-opened field lines is also suggested from the examination of the ion distribution functions. During an injection event, a large plasma convection motion, indicative of a reconnection site location, is shown to be consistent with the velocity perturbation induced by the large-scale Alfvén wave simultaneously detected.


1985 ◽  
Vol 107 ◽  
pp. 559-559
Author(s):  
V. A. Mazur ◽  
A. V. Stepanov

It is shown that the existence of plasma density inhomogeneities (ducts) elongated along the magnetic field in coronal loops, and of Alfven wave dispersion, associated with the taking into account of gyrotropy U ≡ ω/ωi ≪ 1 (Leonovich et al., 1983), leads to the possibility of a quasi-longitudinal k⊥ < √U k‖ propagation (wave guiding) of Alfven waves. Here ω is the frequency of Alfven waves, ωi is the proton gyrofrequency, and k is the wave number. It is found that with the parameter ξ = ω2 R/ωi A > 1, where R is the inhomogeneity scale of a loop across the magnetic field, and A is the Alfven wave velocity, refraction of Alfven waves does not lead, as contrasted to Wentzel's inference (1976), to the waves going out of the regime of quasi-longitudinal propagation. As the result, the amplification of Alfven waves in solar coronal loops can be important. A study is made of the cyclotron instability of Alfven waves under solar coronal conditions.


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