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Coupling Between Alfvén Wave and Kelvin–Helmholtz Waves in the Low Latitude Boundary Layer

Journal Article · · Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
  2. Andrews Univ., Berrien Springs, MI (United States)
  3. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ., Daytona Beach, FL (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
The Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) instability of magnetohydrodynamic surface waves at the low latitude boundary layer is examined using both an eigenfrequency analysis and a time-dependent wave simulation. The analysis includes the effects of sheared flow and Alfvén velocity gradient. When the magnetosheath flows are perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field direction, unstable KH waves that propagate obliquely to the sheared flow direction occur at the sheared flow surface when the Alfvén Mach number is higher than an instability threshold. Including a shear transition layer between the magnetosphere and magnetosheath leads to secondary KH waves (driven by the sheared flow) that are coupled to the resonant surface Alfvén wave. There are remarkable differences between the primary and the secondary KH waves, including wave frequency, the growth rate, and the ratio between the transverse and compressional components. The secondary KH wave energy is concentrated near the shear Alfvén wave frequency at the magnetosheath with a lower frequency than the primary KH waves. Although the growth rate of the secondary KH waves is lower than the primary KH waves, the threshold condition is lower, so it is expected that these types of waves will dominate at a lower Mach number. Because the transverse component of the secondary KH waves is stronger than that of the primary KH waves, more efficient wave energy transfer from the boundary layer to the inner magnetosphere is also predicted.
Research Organization:
Andrews Univ., Berrien Springs, MI (United States); Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ., Daytona Beach, FL (United States); Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-09CH11466
OSTI ID:
1856185
Journal Information:
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, Journal Name: Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences Vol. 8; ISSN 2296-987X
Publisher:
Frontiers Research FoundationCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
Alfvén wave
Kelvin–Helmholtz instability
boundary layer
magnetopause
mode conversion
wave coupling