Resonant Alfven waves on auroral field lines

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA04p03402· OSTI ID:5557617

Chiu, Y T ^[1]

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1. Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab., CA (United States)

It is shown that resonant Alfven waves on dipole magnetic field geometry and plasma distributions suitable for auroral field lines can be conveniently treated in the theory of Mathieu functions. Resurgent interest in invoking large-scale Alfven waves to structure some elements of auroral electrodynamics calls for interpretation of measured perpendicular electric and magnetic disturbance fields in terms of Alfven waves. The ability to express the resonant eigenmodes in closed form in terms of Mathieu functions allows for convenient tests of the Alfven wave structuring hypothesis. Implications for current vector electric and magnetic disturbance measurements are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 5557617
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 92:A4; ISSN JGREA; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
AURORAE
AURORAL ZONES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
FLUID MECHANICS
FUNCTIONS
GEOMETRY
HYDRODYNAMICS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
KINETICS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MATHEMATICS
MECHANICS
WAVE FUNCTIONS