Electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves observed near the oxygen cyclotron frequency by ISEE 1 and 2

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA02447· OSTI ID:5595236

Fraser, B J ^[1]; Samson, J C ^[2]; Hu, Y D ^[3]; McPherron, R L; Russell, C T ^[4]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States) Univ. of Newcastle, New South Wales (Australia)
2. Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton (Canada)
3. Univ. of Newcastle, New South Wales (Australia)
4. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

Pc 2 electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves at 0.1 waves at 0.1 Hz, near the oxygen cyclotron frequency, have been observed by ISEE 1 and 2 between L = 7.6 and 5.8 on an inbound near-equatorial pass in the dusk sector. The waves occurred in a thick plasmapause of width {approx} 1.5 R{sub E} and penetrated {approx}1 R{sub E} into the plasmasphere. Wave onset was accompanied by significant increases in the thermal (0-100 eV) He{sup +} and the warm (0.1-16 keV/e) O{sup +} and He{sup +} heavy ion populations. The most intense waves (8 nT) were observed in the outer plasmasphere where convection drift velocities (E x B)/B{sup 2} were largest and the Alfven velocity was a minimum. Wave polarization is predominantly left-handed with propagation almost parallel to the ambient magnetic field, and the spectral slot and polarization reversal predicted by cold plasma propagation theory are identified in the wave data. Poynting fluxes calculated during the first 15 min of the event show wave energy propagation directions both parallel and antiparallel to the field. Computations of the experimental wave spectra during the passage through the plasmapause show that the spectral slots relate to local plasma parameters, possibly suggesting an ion cyclotron wave growth source near the spacecraft. A regular wave packet structure seen over the first 30 min of the event may be attributed to the modulation of this energy source by the Pc 5 waves seen at the same time. Overall, the results are considered an example of an electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave-particle interaction occurring during the outer plasmasphere refilling process at the time of the substorm recovery phase.

• OSTI ID: 5595236
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 97:A3; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLD PLASMA
CYCLOTRON FREQUENCY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
EXPLORER SATELLITES
HELIUM IONS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
ION WAVES
IONIC COMPOSITION
IONS
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA WAVES
PLASMAPAUSE
PLASMASPHERE
POLARIZATION
POYNTING THEOREM
SATELLITES
WAVE PACKETS
WAVE PROPAGATION