Eigenmode analysis of compressional waves in the magnetosphere

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6400280· OSTI ID:6400280

Cheng, C Z; Lin, C S

A field-aligned eigenode analysis of compressional Alfven instabilities has been performed for a two component anisotropic plasma in a dipole magnetic field. The eigenmode equations are derived from the gyrokinetic equations in the long wavelength (k rho < 1) and low frequency (..omega.. < ..omega../sub b/) limits, where rho is the hot particle gyroradius and ..omega../sub b/ is the hot particle bounce frequency. Two types of compressional instabilities are identified. One is the drift mirror mode which has an odd parity compressional magnetic component with respect to the magnetic equator. The other is the drift compressional mode with an even parity compressional magnetic component. For typical storm time plasma parameters neargeosynchronous orbit, the drift mirror mode is most unstable and the drift compressional mode is stable. The storm time compressional Pc 5 waves, observed by multiple satellites during November 14-15, 1979 (Takahashi et al., 1987), can be explained by the drift mirror instability.

• Research Organization: Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• OSTI ID: 6400280
• Report Number(s): PPPL-2424; ON: DE87010633
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
COMPRESSION
DRIFT INSTABILITY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
EIGENFUNCTIONS
FUNCTIONS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC COMPRESSION
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
MAGNETIC STORMS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PARITY
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES