Mode conversion of Langmuir to electromagnetic waves at magnetic field-aligned density inhomogeneities: Simulations, theory, and applications to the solar wind and the corona

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 102110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun-Hwa Kim ◽  
Iver H. Cairns ◽  
Peter A. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Electromagnetic Waves ◽  
Mode Conversion ◽  
Density Inhomogeneities

scholarly journals Whistler waves observed by Solar Orbiter during its first orbit

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthieu Kretschmar ◽  
Thomas Chust ◽  
Daniel Graham ◽  
Volodya Krasnosekskikh ◽  
Lucas Colomban ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Electromagnetic Waves ◽  
Heliocentric Distance ◽  
Plasma Waves ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Whistler Waves ◽  
Velocity Distribution Functions ◽  
The Waves

<p>Plasma waves can play an important role in the evolution of the solar wind and the particle velocity distribution functions in particular. We analyzed the electromagnetic waves observed above a few Hz by the Radio Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument suite onboard Solar Orbiter, during its first orbit, which covered a distance from the Sun between 1 AU and 0.5 AU.  We identified the majority of the detected waves as whistler waves with frequency around  0.1 f_ce and right handed circular polarisation. We found these waves to be mostly aligned or anti aligned with the ambient magnetic field, and rarely oblique. We also present and discuss their direction of propagation and the variation of the waves' properties with heliocentric distance.</p>

Using Compressibility and Electric Field to Characterize Circularly-Polarized Waves Near the Proton Cyclotron Frequency Observed by Solar Orbiter

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Khotyaintsev ◽  
Daniel B Graham ◽  
Konrad Steinvall ◽  
Andris Vaivads ◽  
Milan Maksimovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electromagnetic Waves ◽  
Cyclotron Frequency ◽  
Density Fluctuations ◽  
Background Magnetic Field ◽  
The Waves ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Proton Cyclotron

<p>We report Solar Orbiter observations of electromagnetic waves near the proton cyclotron frequency during the first perihelion. The waves have polarization close to circular and have wave vectors closely aligned with the background magnetic field. Such waves are potentially important for heating of the solar wind as their frequency and polarization allows effective energy exchange with solar wind protons. The Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument provides a high-cadence measurement of plasma density and electric field which we use together with the magnetic field measured by MAG to characterize these waves. In particular we compute the compressibility and the phase between the density fluctuations and the parallel component of the magnetic field, and show that these have a distinct behavior for the waves compared to the Alfvénic turbulence. We compare the observations to multi-fluid plasma dispersion and identify the waves modes corresponding to the observed waves. We discuss the importance of the waves for solar wind heating.</p>

scholarly journals Mode Conversion and Reflection of Langmuir Waves in an Inhomogeneous Solar Wind

2001 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Willes ◽  
Iver H. Cairns
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Electromagnetic Waves ◽  
Plasma Frequency ◽  
Mode Conversion ◽  
Langmuir Wave ◽  
Solar Wind Plasma ◽  
Langmuir Waves ◽  
Transverse Electromagnetic ◽  
Solar Wind Parameters ◽  
Conversion Efficiencies

AbstractBeam-driven Langmuir waves in the solar wind are generated just above the electron plasma frequency, which fluctuates in the inhomogeneous solar wind plasma. Consequently, propagating Langmuir waves encounter regions in which the wave frequency is less than the local plasma frequency, where they can be reflected, mode converted to transverse electromagnetic waves, and trapped in density wells. The aim here is to investigate Langmuir wave reflection and mode conversion at a linear density gradient for typical solar wind parameters. It is shown that higher mode conversion efficiencies are possible than previously calculated, but that mode conversion occurs in a smaller region of parameter space. In addition, the possibility of detecting mode conversion with in situ spacecraft Langmuir wave observations is discussed.

H-Cmes and Ii-Type Radio Bursts Related Intense Geomagnetic Storms in Relation With Interplanetary Magnetic Field and Solar Wind Disturbances

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Praveen Kumar Gupta ◽  
◽  
Puspraj Singh Puspraj Singh ◽  
Puspraj Singh Puspraj Singh ◽  
P. K. Chamadia P. K. Chamadia
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Geomagnetic Storms ◽  
Radio Bursts ◽  
Solar Wind Disturbances

scholarly journals The Location of Magnetic Reconnection at Earth’s Magnetopause

2021 ◽  
Vol 217 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Trattner ◽  
S. M. Petrinec ◽  
S. A. Fuselier
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Ion Beams ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Observational Evidence ◽  
Magnetic Shear ◽  
General Direction ◽  
Shear Model ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractOne of the major questions about magnetic reconnection is how specific solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions influence where reconnection occurs at the Earth’s magnetopause. There are two reconnection scenarios discussed in the literature: a) anti-parallel reconnection and b) component reconnection. Early spacecraft observations were limited to the detection of accelerated ion beams in the magnetopause boundary layer to determine the general direction of the reconnection X-line location with respect to the spacecraft. An improved view of the reconnection location at the magnetopause evolved from ionospheric emissions observed by polar-orbiting imagers. These observations and the observations of accelerated ion beams revealed that both scenarios occur at the magnetopause. Improved methodology using the time-of-flight effect of precipitating ions in the cusp regions and the cutoff velocity of the precipitating and mirroring ion populations was used to pinpoint magnetopause reconnection locations for a wide range of solar wind conditions. The results from these methodologies have been used to construct an empirical reconnection X-line model known as the Maximum Magnetic Shear model. Since this model’s inception, several tests have confirmed its validity and have resulted in modifications to the model for certain solar wind conditions. This review article summarizes the observational evidence for the location of magnetic reconnection at the Earth’s magnetopause, emphasizing the properties and efficacy of the Maximum Magnetic Shear Model.

scholarly journals Cluster observations of sudden impulses in the magnetotail caused by interplanetary shocks and pressure increases

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 609-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. J. Huttunen ◽  
J. Slavin ◽  
M. Collier ◽  
H. E. J. Koskinen ◽  
A. Szabo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Solar Wind Speed ◽  
Interplanetary Shock ◽  
Wind Pressure ◽  
Shock Propagation ◽  
Interplanetary Shocks ◽  
Maximum Variance ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Abstract. Sudden impulses (SI) in the tail lobe magnetic field associated with solar wind pressure enhancements are investigated using measurements from Cluster. The magnetic field components during the SIs change in a manner consistent with the assumption that an antisunward moving lateral pressure enhancement compresses the magnetotail axisymmetrically. We found that the maximum variance SI unit vectors were nearly aligned with the associated interplanetary shock normals. For two of the tail lobe SI events during which Cluster was located close to the tail boundary, Cluster observed the inward moving magnetopause. During both events, the spacecraft location changed from the lobe to the magnetospheric boundary layer. During the event on 6 November 2001 the magnetopause was compressed past Cluster. We applied the 2-D Cartesian model developed by collier98 in which a vacuum uniform tail lobe magnetic field is compressed by a step-like pressure increase. The model underestimates the compression of the magnetic field, but it fits the magnetic field maximum variance component well. For events for which we could determine the shock normal orientation, the differences between the observed and calculated shock propagation times from the location of WIND/Geotail to the location of Cluster were small. The propagation speeds of the SIs between the Cluster spacecraft were comparable to the solar wind speed. Our results suggest that the observed tail lobe SIs are due to lateral increases in solar wind dynamic pressure outside the magnetotail boundary.

scholarly journals Interplanetary magnetic field control of Saturn's polar cusp aurora

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1405-1431 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Bunce ◽  
S. W. H. Cowley ◽  
S. E. Milan
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Line ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Vortical Flows ◽  
Dayside Magnetopause ◽  
Closed Field Line ◽  
Lobe Reconnection

Abstract. Dayside UV emissions in Saturn's polar ionosphere have been suggested to be the first observational evidence of the kronian "cusp" (Gérard et al., 2004). The emission has two distinct states. The first is a bright arc-like feature located in the pre-noon sector, and the second is a more diffuse "spot" of aurora which lies poleward of the general location of the main auroral oval, which may be related to different upstream interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientations. Here we take up the suggestion that these emissions correspond to the cusp. However, direct precipitation of electrons in the cusp regions is not capable of producing significant UV aurora. We have therefore investigated the possibility that the observed UV emissions are associated with reconnection occurring at the dayside magnetopause, possibly pulsed, akin to flux transfer events seen at the Earth. We devise a conceptual model of pulsed reconnection at the low-latitude dayside magnetopause for the case of northwards IMF which will give rise to pulsed twin-vortical flows in the magnetosphere and ionosphere in the vicinity of the open-closed field-line boundary, and hence to bi-polar field-aligned currents centred in the vortical flows. During intervals of high-latitude lobe reconnection for southward IMF, we also expect to have pulsed twin-vortical flows and corresponding bi-polar field-aligned currents. The vortical flows in this case, however, are displaced poleward of the open-closed field line boundary, and are reversed in sense, such that the field-aligned currents are also reversed. For both cases of northward and southward IMF we have also for the first time included the effects associated with the IMF By effect. We also include the modulation introduced by the structured nature of the solar wind and IMF at Saturn's orbit by developing "slow" and "fast" flow models corresponding to intermediate and high strength IMF respectively. We then consider the conditions under which the plasma populations appropriate to either sub-solar reconnection or high-latitude lobe reconnection can carry the currents indicated. We have estimated the field-aligned voltages required, the resulting precipitating particle energy fluxes, and the consequent auroral output. Overall our model of pulsed reconnection under conditions of northwards and southwards IMF, and for varying orientations of IMF By, is found to produce a range of UV emission intensities and geometries which is in good agreement with the data presented by Gérard et al. (2004). The recent HST-Cassini solar wind campaign provides a unique opportunity to test the theoretical ideas presented here.

scholarly journals Solar wind and substorm excitation of the wavy current sheet

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 2457-2474 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Forsyth ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
R. C. Fear ◽  
E. Lucek ◽  
I. Dandouras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Current Sheet ◽  
Pressure Pulse ◽  
Wind Pressure ◽  
Expansion Velocity ◽  
Solar Wind Pressure ◽  
Wave Models ◽  
Best Fit ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Abstract. Following a solar wind pressure pulse on 3 August 2001, GOES 8, GOES 10, Cluster and Polar observed dipolarizations of the magnetic field, accompanied by an eastward expansion of the aurora observed by IMAGE, indicating the occurrence of two substorms. Prior to the first substorm, the motion of the plasma sheet with respect to Cluster was in the ZGSM direction. Observations following the substorms show the occurrence of current sheet waves moving predominantly in the −YGSM direction. Following the second substorm, the current sheet waves caused multiple current sheet crossings of the Cluster spacecraft, previously studied by Zhang et al. (2002). We further this study to show that the velocity of the current sheet waves was similar to the expansion velocity of the substorm aurora and the expansion of the dipolarization regions in the magnetotail. Furthermore, we compare these results with the current sheet wave models of Golovchanskaya and Maltsev (2005) and Erkaev et al. (2008). We find that the Erkaev et al. (2008) model gives the best fit to the observations.

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