Hybrid simulation of ion cyclotron resonance in the solar wind: Evolution of velocity distribution functions

Physics – Plasma Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

8

Space Plasma Physics: Wave/Particle Interactions (2483, 6984), Space Plasma Physics: Kinetic Waves And Instabilities, Space Plasma Physics: Plasma Energization, Solar Physics, Astrophysics, And Astronomy: Corona

Scientific paper

Resonant interaction between ions (oxygen ions O+5 and protons) and ion cyclotron waves is investigated using a one dimensional hybrid code. Ion cyclotron waves are self-consistently generated by an ion cyclotron anisotropy instability. We focus on the detailed acceleration process of ions. The energization of oxygen ions due to waves is found to have two stages. During the first stage, oxygen ions are energized by ion cyclotron waves in the direction perpendicular to the background magnetic field and can develop extreme high temperature anisotropies with TO$\perp$/TO$\parallel$ ~ 22 in an initially low beta plasma (beta value at 0.01) with very little parallel heating. During this stage, oxygen ions do not show an appreciable bulk acceleration along the background magnetic field. In the second stage, a large bulk acceleration of oxygen ions as large as 0.3vA, where vA is the Alfvén speed, is observed. Ion cyclotron waves are not able to maintain a high temperature anisotropy as inferred from observations. The nonlinear nature of wave particle interaction produces highly complex velocity distribution functions in the oxygen ions. In contrast, the heating and acceleration behavior of the major species, namely protons, is quite different. The velocity distribution functions of protons are less complex than the oxygen velocity distributions. Protons can also develop a large temperature anisotropy with preferential heating in the perpendicular direction. A bulk acceleration of protons (much smaller than the acceleration of oxygen ions) along the background magnetic field is observed to develop simultaneously with the development of a proton temperature anisotropy.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Hybrid simulation of ion cyclotron resonance in the solar wind: Evolution of velocity distribution functions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Hybrid simulation of ion cyclotron resonance in the solar wind: Evolution of velocity distribution functions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hybrid simulation of ion cyclotron resonance in the solar wind: Evolution of velocity distribution functions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1365548

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.