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Electron Distributions in Kinetic Scale Field Line Resonances: A Comparison of Simulations and Observations

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2018gl077748· OSTI ID:1468802
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States). Geophysical Inst.; Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
  2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Space Sciences Lab.
  3. Andrews Univ., Berrien Springs, MI (United States). Dept. of Engineering and Computer Science

Observations in kinetic scale field line resonances, or eigenmodes of the geomagnetic field, reveal highly field-aligned plateaued electron distributions. By combining observations from the Van Allen Probes and Cluster spacecraft with a hybrid kinetic gyrofluid simulation we show how these distributions arise from the nonlocal self-consistent interaction of electrons with the wavefield. This interaction is manifested as electron trapping in the standing wave potential. The process operates along most of the field line and qualitatively accounts for electron observations near the equatorial plane and at higher latitudes. In conjunction with the highly field-aligned plateaus, loss cone features are also evident, which result from the action of the upward-directed wave parallel electric field on the untrapped electron populations.

Research Organization:
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; National Science Foundation (NSF); National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA)
OSTI ID:
1468802
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 45; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Kinetic Simulations of Electron Acceleration by Dispersive Scale Alfvén Waves in Jupiter's Magnetosphere journal March 2019
Periodic Excitation of Chorus and ECH Waves Modulated by Ultralow Frequency Compressions journal November 2019

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