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At least 73 records · Page 4

Hydromagnetic waves and cosmic-ray diffusion theory

Pitch-angle (and energy) diffusion of cosmic rays in hydromagnetic wave fields is considered. The treatment remains strictly within the quasi-linear approximation. It is shown that the popular assumption of an isotropic power spectrum tensor of magnetic fluctuations requires in this case equal forms and magnitudes of Alfven and magnetosonic wave spectra - a situation which is generally unlikely. The relative contributions to the pitch-angle diffusion coefficient from the cyclotron resonances and Landau resonance due to the different types of waves are evaluated for a typical situation in the solar wind. Since the Landau resonance in this approximation also does not lead to particle reflections, a proper consideration of the nonlinear particle orbits is indeed necessary to overcome the well-known difficulties of quasi-linear scattering theory for cosmic rays near 90 deg pitch angle.

Lee, M. A.↗

Standing hydromagnetic waves observed by ISEE 1 and 2 - Radial extent and harmonic

Direct measurements of the spatial extent of the resonant hydromagnetic waves associated with Pc 4 and 5 magnetic pulsations made by the closely spaced ISEE 1 and 2 satellites are presented together with ISEE 1 determinations of the harmonic of the resonant waves. The use of two satellites in similar orbits, which makes it possible to distinguish between spatial and temporal features, has shown the resonant region widths to extend over about 0.2 to 1.6 L shells for three events detected on the dayside between L = 4 and L = 7. The two events for which plasma density data was available occurred at plasma density gradients in the vicinity of the plasmapause. The standing wave harmonic was determined by the combination of two techniques: the comparison of the observed wave period with that predicted by standing wave theory, and the comparison of the phases of the observed wave electric and magnetic field. The two events analyzed are found to be second harmonic oscillations, suggesting internal generation in the magnetosphere by a bounce resonant mechanism.

Singer, H. J.↗

On the polarization, compression and nonoscillatory behavior of hydromagnetic waves associated with pickup ions

Solution of the kinetic dispersion equation shows that heavy pickup ions with large perpendicular energies excite a new hydromagnetic wave mode with maximum growth, high (magnetic field and mass density) compression ratios, and almost linear polarization coexisting slightly away 6-15 deg from parallel propagation. The mode arises from the coupling of the heavy ion beam to the modified left-hand wave dispersion caused by the multiion nature of the medium. The ion beam can also bring about nonoscillatory, purely growing structures distinct from the mirror wave through the coupling of a counter-streaming left-hand mode to a costreaming right-hand wave. The free energy source parameters are varied to determine their relative influence and define the domain of existence of the instability. Its characteristics may prove helpful in the interpretation of recent cometary (Halley and Giacobini-Zinner) and artificial release (AMPTE) observations.

Brinca, Armando L.↗

Spectral characteristics of hydromagnetic waves in the magnetosphere

The presence of discrete frequencies in the resonant response of the magnetosphere is considered. The eigenequation characterizing the eigenmodes of the hydromagnetic waves in a cylindrical model for the outer magnetosphere is shown to have two turning points along the radial axis. The turning point locations are related to the values of the eigenperiod and the associated east-west wavenumber of the eigenmode. It is also found that only the discrete set of the magnetospheric cavity eigenmodes can efficiently couple the perturbations excited on the boundary of the magnetosphere to the field-line resonant mode excited inside the turning point of the cavity eigenmode.

Kuo, S. P.↗

Hydromagnetic waves at low latitudes - A symposium review from the fifth IAGA assembly

The aim of the symposium was to bring together investigators with interests in low latitude hydromagnetic waves in order to review the present state of knowledge in this area of magnetospheric physics. Of particular importance is the means by which wave energy is transferred to low latitudes to produce geomagnetic pulsations on the ground. The group of contributed papers reviewed shows that definitive experiments are underway and new theories capable of providing resonant wave energy at low latitudes are being developed. Particular topics covered by the review include solar wind control, wave spectra, array studies of wave parameters, storm time waves, and global wave resonance theory involving the coupling of compressional and transverse waves in the magnetosphere.

Fraser, B. J.↗

Hydromagnetic waves and turbulence in the solar wind

The paper presents a state-of-the-art review of interplanetary fluctuations, their origins, and their effects on the solar wind. Typical values of parameters to waves and turbulence in the solar wind are examined, along with a classification of large-amplitude waves. Cases where description by the MHD theory is qualitatively correct and where it can be misleading are noted. An attempt is made to state rigorously the essential points of hydromagnetic-wave theory and to identify areas in which theoretical research needs to be extended. The review covers the observed hydromagnetic fluctuations, their interpretation in terms of current theory, and the degree of closure between observation and theory. The spatial distribution and origins of waves in the solar wind are discussed.

Barnes, A.↗

Multisatellite observations of resonant hydromagnetic waves

Long period geomagnetic pulsations with periods between about 10 and 600 s have been observed by ground magnetometers for over 100 years. Dungey (1954) suggested that these pulsations might be hydromagnetic waves resonating on geomagnetic field lines. One of the most recent techniques employed to examine pulsations and to test pulsation theory has been that of multispacecraft observations. A review is attempted to show how multisatellite observations have been used to provide new insight in the generation mechanisms, propagation characteristics, and resonant properties of magnetospheric pulsations. Some studies show how measurements of the plasma environment both in the vicinity of the waves and elsewhere have enabled tests of resonance theory in ways which were not previously possible with single satellite measurements.

Singer, H. J.↗

Propagation directions of hydromagnetic waves in interplanetary space - Pioneer 10 and 11

The real and imaginary parts of spectral matrices of magnetic field fluctuations near 4 and 5 AU are used separately to generate estimates of hydromagnetic wave normal directions over the frequency range 0.00001 to 0.01 Hz in the spacecraft frame. Both procedures suggest the predominance of the Alfven mode over the fast and slow MHD modes among transverse magnetic field perturbations. Both procedures also show that the Alfven mode is more common among transverse perturbations at 4 AU than at 5 AU. Statistical techniques are for estimating uncertainties in computed wave normal directions and it is concluded that the real parts of the spectral matrices are more useful than the imaginary parts in specifying wave normals at times of magnetic quiet in the solar wind near 4 and 5 AU.

Parker, G. D.↗

Upstream hydromagnetic waves and their association with backstreaming ion populations - ISEE 1 and 2 observations

Measurements from the Lepedea plasma instruments and the flux gate magnetometers on ISEE 1 and 2 are used to examine the nature of the hydromagnetic waves associated with the various classes of ions backstreaming from the earth's bow shock. The reflected ions, which are confined to a narrow energy and angular range, are accompanied by small amplitude (less than approximately 1/2 gamma peak to peak) left-handed waves at frequencies close to 1 Hz in the spacecraft frame. Diffuse backstreaming particles with a broad energy spectrum are associated with low frequency (approximately 30-s period), large amplitude (approximately 5 gamma peak to peak) waves. Intermediate particles are associated with a mixture of these two wave types. Often the waves associated with the diffuse beams steepen as if they were minishocks. The leading edge (trailing edge in the spacecraft frame) frequently appears to break up into a whistler mode wave packet. These discrete wave packets are right-hand polarized and have frequencies from below the proton gyrofrequency to well above it in the plasma frame and are blown back towards the earth by the solar wind.

Hoppe, M. M.↗

Steepening of parallel propagating hydromagnetic waves into magnetic pulsations - A simulation study

The steepening mechanism of parallel propagating low-frequency MHD-like waves observed upstream of the earth's quasi-parallel bow shock has been investigated by means of electromagnetic hybrid simulations. It is shown that an ion beam through the resonant electromagnetic ion/ion instability excites large-amplitude waves, which consequently pitch angle scatter, decelerate, and eventually magnetically trap beam ions in regions where the wave amplitudes are largest. As a result, the beam ions become bunched in both space and gyrophase. As these higher-density, nongyrotropic beam segments are formed, the hydromagnetic waves rapidly steepen, resulting in magnetic pulsations, with properties generally in agreement with observations. This steepening process operates on the scale of the linear growth time of the resonant ion/ion instability. Many of the pulsations generated by this mechanism are left-hand polarized in the spacecraft frame.

Akimoto, K.↗

Multiple Radially Aligned Plasmaspheric Structures as Evidence of Standing Hydromagnetic Waves: IMAGE EUV Observations and Forward Modeling

The IMAGE EUV imager has observed several instances where the outer plasmasphere is populated by multiple radially aligned structures resembling "plasmaspheric fingers". The observation of these plasmaspheric structures suggests the presence of an azimuthal standing hydromagnetic wave mode. Eiganmodes appear to explain finger-like. nearly radial density structures that sometimes divide into two structures with increasing radial distance. The implication is of boundaries at fixed local times, which results in a widening "box" in which standing waves are developed. The structures also suggest a single driving frequency for the source of the waves. We present EUV observations of plasmaspheric fingers observed on August 2000 as well as plasmaspheric modeling of azimuthal wave modes in an effort to quantify the origin of these observed structures

Gallagher, D. L.↗

Theory of hydromagnetic waves in the magnetosphere

A survey of theoretical and experimental research on the origin and characteristics of low-frequency hydromagnetic (HM) waves in the magnetosphere is presented, with a focus on advances in theory made in the last ten years. Basic wave theory and a collisionless plasma theory are applied to the magnetosphere as a HM system. Continuous energy sources are considered, such as the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, the ring-current plasma, and drift instabilities. Other topics discussed include the theory of inhomogeneous HM waves, signal behavior in atmosphere and ionosphere, Alfven waves and ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling, Pi2 signals, damping, pulsating aurora, heavy-ion scattering, and standing waves in high-speed flows (like the wake phenomena caused on Jupiter by the passing of Io, observed by Voyager 1).

Southwood, D. J.↗

Hydromagnetic waves and instabilities associated with cometary ion pickup - ICE observations

The hydromagnetic turbulence surrounding comet Giacobini-Zinner is characterized by two dominant components: large amplitude, linearly polarized waves with periods near 100 s and circularly polarized wave packets with periods near 3 s. The latter appear in association with variations in field magnitude produced by the long period waves. A third, commonly observed feature is identified, consisting of a partial rotation of the magnetic field (a hook-like structure) which also appears to be triggered by the long period waves. The possibility that the long period waves are generated by the pickup of freshly ionized cometary neutrals has been investigated. A resonant instability identified by Wu and Davidson (1972) appears able to account for the long period waves in terms of the pickup of cometary ions of the water group. Application of the theory also indicates that the growth rate of proton cyclotron waves, as a consequence of hydrogen ion pickup, is somewhat lower, due to both higher neutral velocities and longer ionization times.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗