Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufm.p41a1603b&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P41A-1603
Physics
Plasma Physics
[2730] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetosphere: Inner, [2772] Magnetospheric Physics / Plasma Waves And Instabilities, [6235] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mercury, [7867] Space Plasma Physics / Wave/Particle Interactions
Scientific paper
The near-polar orbit of MESSENGER about Mercury has allowed the mapping of ultra-low-frequency (ULF) waves, observed in the light-ion cyclotron-frequency range, in magnetic local time versus magnetic latitude in Mercury's inner magnetosphere. These waves often exhibit a banded harmonic structure in their dynamic spectra and typically occur at frequencies between the He+ (fcHe+) and proton (fcH+) cyclotron frequencies. The variation of the fundamental frequency with time is typically smooth, often starting at fcHe+ at higher latitudes and rising to and sometimes above fcH+ as the spacecraft moves equatorward. These waves are almost always strongly linearly polarized, with very few examples of circular polarization. Their wave amplitudes tend to maximize near the magnetic equator, where they tend to be strongly compressional. At their largest observed extent in magnetic latitude, the polarization tends to be linear and transverse to the background magnetic field. These waves exhibit a distinct high-latitude cut-off on the nightside that varies with magnetic local time. This cut-off occurs around 30o latitude at midnight and rises to ~80o near noon. Except near the cusp, the wave power maximizes at the equator, suggesting both cusp and equatorial sources for these waves. These observations, combined with theory, will aid in the physical interpretation of these waves, and thus in determining the role they play in Mercury's magnetosphere. In this paper we present examples, statistics, and our interpretation of these waves.
Anderson Benjamin J.
Boardsen Scott A.
Korth Haje
Schriver David
Slavin James Arthur
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