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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Particle acceleration by intense auroral VLF turbulence

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6136918
Broadband turbulence in the lower-hybrid to plasma frequency range is found in a variety of forms in the supraauroral region, must notably as auroral his and VLF saucers. When the turbulence is intense, it is observed to be associated with ion conics (ions heated transverse to the geomagnetic field) and counter-streaming electron fluxes (heated in both directions parallel to the field). This tutorial will begin with a review of the dispersion and propagation characteristics of whistler resonance-cone waves, which comprise the turbulence, and go on to discuss the theories for the excitation of the turbulence. Plasma simulation and mesoscale (Monte Carlo) simulation techniques will be used to illustrate the interaction of the ambient plasma with the turbulence. These calculations will demonstrate how this interaction results in transverse heating of the ions and parallel heating of the electrons of the plasma, leading to the formation of the observed heated and accelerated particle fluxes.
Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6136918
Report Number(s):
AD-A-228764/7/XAB; CNN: F49620-86-C-0128
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English