Heating of protons by resonant absorption in a multicomponent plasma. II - Theoretical model

Details Heating of protons by resonant absorption in a multicomponent plasma. II - Theoretical model Heating of protons by resonant absorption in a multicomponent plasma. II - Theoretical model

Aug 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993jgr....9813363l&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 98, no. A8, p. 13,363-13,375.

Physics

19

Ion Distribution, Magnetohydrodynamic Waves, Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling, Plasma Interactions, Wave Propagation, Conics, Energy Transfer, Geomagnetism, Gyrofrequency, Proton Flux Density

Scientific paper

A theory is proposed to explain the selective heating of protons in a direction transverse to the geomagnetic field lines. This process, which occurs only in multicomponent plasma, ultimately leads to the formation of a conical distribution, inside and above the heating region. It is shown that magnetosonic Alfven waves generated at higher altitudes can undergo a resonant mode conversion process as they propagate downward. The efficiency of the subsequent resonant absorption depends rather strongly on the propagation angle of the waves and on the relative abundance of H(+) ions: up to 25 percent of the incident energy flux can be transferred to protons. The present theory moreover foresees that a strong parallel electric field component has to occur at the altitude at which the wave frequency matches the proton gyrofrequency. The corresponding spectral signature has been unambiguously identified in AUREOL 3 data, together with an intensification of the upward flux of suprathermal protons, which indicates the presence of proton conics. We have verified that within the uncertainties of the measurements the energy balance between the incoming electromagnetic power and the outgoing flux of kinetic energy is well explained by the theory.

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