Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
May 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agusmsm31b..04r&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2009, abstract #SM31B-04
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
7500 Solar Physics, Astrophysics, And Astronomy
Scientific paper
Observations from the NASA POLAR and FAST missions reveal that Alfven waves are intimately associated with electron and ion particle acceleration in Earth's magnetosphere. Data from POLAR shows intense geomagnetic field-aligned wave Poynting flux near and within the plasma sheet tail lobe boundary. The corresponding UVI auroral imaging provides strong, but nevertheless circumstantial evidence that the associated electron acceleration powers auroral emissions above the ionosphere. To explain the data, we present results of modeling that agree with observations of Alfven wave activity, and describe the characteristics of the resulting wave-particle interactions along the entire extent of a magnetic flux tube. Model results using the Vlasov-Maxwell equations reveal detailed characteristics of the electron distribution functions observed by POLAR, while two-fluid modeling of the resulting ion dynamics is shown to agree with observations of up-flowing ion beams. We argue that missions such as FAST and POLAR reveal the need for more detailed observations at high altitude, on the order of 4-5Re. Such an opportunity is presented by the decision by Canada to launch two Polar Communications Weather (PCW) satellites that sample the relevant region of Geospace within which acceleration by Alfven waves is optimal. We discuss how a well-instrumented PCW mission would be used to demonstrate closure on the nature of Alfven wave-induced particle acceleration.
Rankin Robert
Sydorenko D.
Watt Colum
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