Propagation characteristics of hydromagnetic waves in a cold plasma mixed with a hot plasma and right-hand polarized Pc1 and Pc5

Propagation characteristics of hydromagnetic waves in a cold plasma mixed with a hot plasma under a uniform static magnetic field are investigated. The existence of cold plasma seriously affects the polarization properties of the waves. The results are applied to the interpretation of Pcl and Pc5 with righthand polarizations guided along the geomagnetic field line.     

Wave packet propagation in an amplifying medium and its application to the dispersion characteristics and to the generation mechanisms of Pc 1 events

The formulae which give the propagation characteristics of a wave packet in a dispersive and amplifying medium, are established. Application is made to the propagation of Pc 1 elements through a magnetosphere constituted of a cold plasma and a high energy proton population. It is shown that the spectral shape, in a frequency-time coordinate system, of the Pc 1 elements is related to two terms : v = d²ω/dk², which represents the variation of the group velocity with frequency and which depends only on the cold plasma characteristics, and μ = -d²γ/dk², in which γ is the amplification coefficient depending on the frequency and which is related to the high energy particle distribution function. When v ? μ, only the usual dispersion effects occur, but a new method is found for determining the line of force on which the micropulsations are generated, without making any assumption about the cold plasma density distribution inside the magnetosphere. It is also possible to deduce some characteristics about the high energy proton distribution. Theoretical computations are presented, which give the frequency variation of the amplification coefficient as a function of the e-folding energy and the anisotropy factor of these high energy protons. Applications are made to ~30 pearl events which are analysed in detail according to this theory. When μ ? v, other effects do appear. After a preliminary phase, the pearl elements can become parallel for a while, or even re-erect before lying again; the duration of each element gives an indication about the number of interacting particles. The conditions for the validity of the quasi-linear theory, and some other non-linear effects related with the interpretation of Pc 1 micropulsations are also discussed.     

Propagation properties of hydromagnetic waves in a hot plasma and right-hand polarized PC1 and PC5

Propagation characteristics of hydromagnetic waves in a hot plasma are investigated and the results are used to the interpretation of Pc1 and Pc5 with right-hand polarization guided along the geomagnetic field line.     

Drift anisotropy instability of a finite-β magnetospheric plasma

A unified theory of low frequency instabilities in a two component (cold and hot) finite-β magnetospheric plasma is suggested. It is shown that the low frequency oscillations comprise two wave modes : compressional Alfvén and drift mirror mode. No significant coupling between them is found in the long-wave approximation. Instabilities due to spontaneous excitation of these oscillations are considered. It is found that the temperature anisotropy significantly influences the instability growth rate at low frequency. A new instability due to the temperature anisotropy and density gradient appears when the frequency of compressional Alfvén waves is close to the drift mirror mode frequency. The theoretical predictions are compared in detail with the Pc5 event of 27 October 1978 observed simultaneously by the GEOS 2 satellite and the STARE radar facility. It is shown that the experimental results can be interpreted in terms of a compressional Alfvén wave driven by the drift anisotropy instability.     

New characteristics of double layers in two-temperature Lorentzian plasmas

Double layers (DLs) structures in a collisionless Lorentzian plasma consisting of warm ions and two-temperature superthermal electrons are studied by using the reductive perturbation method. The basic set of fluid equations is reduced to extended Korteweg-de Vries (EK-dV) equation. It is shown that in temperatures lower than critical value for densities around first critical concentrations of cold electrons ( \(d \to d_{c_{1}}\) ) DL structures coexist. The effects of cold to hot electron density ratio d, cold to hot electrons temperature ratio σ, spectral index of cold and hot electrons κ _c and κ _h , ion temperature δ on DLs structure are also, discussed.     

Time of flight calculations for high latitude geomagnetic pulsations

High latitude geomagnetic field lines differ significantly from a dipole geometry. Time of flight calculations using the Mead-Fairfield (1975) model of the geomagnetic field are presented for different tilt angles and K_p conditions. Typical standing wave periods of geomagnetic pulsations are estimated for three different magnetospheric cold plasma regions, corresponding to waves guided in (i) the plasmatrough, (ii) the extended plasmasphere and (iii) regions of enhanced proton density (detached plasma) within the plasmatrough.Pc4/5 pulsation studies at high latitudes are briefly reviewed and some new results from Tromso are given. Many of the observations reveal hydromagnetic waves whose location and period are consistent with ducting in a region of enhanced plasma density within the plasmatrough.     

The flare of October 23, 2003: A comparison of X-Ray and radio observations

The study of the X5 flare of October 23, 2003, was used to develop a method of estimation of the proportion between hot and cold plasma above active regions in the solar corona. The flare occurred in the complex region NOAA 0486+0488, which appeared during the declining phase of the current solar cycle and has attracted attention of many researchers. The radio burst corresponding to this event was observed during the postburst increase of brightness (PBI) by the Large Pulkovo Radio Telescope. In the X-ray wave range, the data from the Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite (GOES) were used. It was found that, in order to explain both the radio and X-ray results obtained during the PBI phase and interflare periods in subsequent days, one must assume the coexistence of hot loops (5–10 MK) and cold plasma (1–3 MK) in the magnetosphere of the active region. Comparison of the emission measures shows that the fraction of hot plasma is much less than 50%; nevertheless, its density is probably higher than that of the surrounding cold plasma by a factor of 3–6.     

Quasielectrostatic whistler-mode propagation

An approximate formula is derived for the refractive index of a whistler-mode wave propagating in a hot anisotropic plasma with wave normal angle close to the resonance cone angle (θ_R). Approximations used during the derivation are generally satisfied for magnetospheric conditions. It is pointed out that the derived formula can be considered to be complementary to the corresponding formula for quasilongitudinal whistler-mode propagation in a hot anisotropic plasma which was derived by Sazhin and Sazhina (1982). The limits of applicability of a cold plasma model when determining the height of generation of saucer emissions and V-shaped hiss are discussed.     

Arbitrary amplitude electron-acoustic solitary waves in the presence of excess superthermal electrons

The problem of arbitrary amplitude electron-acoustic solitary (EAS) waves in a plasma having cold fluid electrons, hot superthermal electrons and stationary ions is addressed. The domain of their allowable Mach numbers enlarges as the spectral index κ increases revealing therefore that the “maxwellisation” process of the hot component favors the propagation of the EAS waves. As the superthermal character of the plasma is increased, the potential pulse amplitude increases while its width is narrowed, i.e, the superthermal effects makes the electron-acoustic solitary structure more spiky. As the spectral index κ decreases, the hot electrons are locally expelled and pushed out of the region of the soliton’s localization. A decrease of the fractional number density of the hot electrons relative to that of the cold ones number density would lead to an increase of the depth as well as the width of the localized EAS wave. Our results should help to understand the salient features of large amplitude localized structures that may occur in the plasma sheet boundary layer and may provide an explanation for the strong spiky waveforms that have been observed in auroral electric fields.     

Small amplitude electron-acoustic solitary waves in a plasma with superthermal hot electrons

In the present investigation, Electron acoustic solitons in a plasma consisting of cold electrons, superthermal hot electrons and stationary ions are studied. The basic properties of small but finite amplitude solitary potential structures that may exist in a given plasma system have been investigated theoretically using reductive perturbation technique. It has been found that the profile of electron acoustic solitary wave structures is very sensitive to relative hot electron density, $\alpha(=\frac{n_{h0}}{n_{c0}})$ , temperature of hot to cold electrons, $\theta(=\frac{T_{h}}{T_{c}})$ and the spectral index κ. The implications of the present study may be applied to explain some features of large amplitude localized structures that may occur in the plasma sheet boundary layer.     

High-latitude Pc1–2 geomagnetic pulsations and their connection with location of the dayside polar cusp

The result of investigating high-latitude Pc1–2 pulsations are presented in this paper. They show that these unstructured oscillations are typical in intervals of low magnetic activity for regions of projections of the dayside cusp on the Earth's surface. The morphological properties of these pulsations, namely the character of their diurnal variations and dependence of their amplitude and frequency of occurrence on magnetic activity on different latitudes, suggest methods of utilization for tracing the location of the equatorial boundary of the dayside cusp. It is suggested that Pc1–2 pulsations are generated mainly in the dayside magnetosheath on field lines, crossing the magnetopause and entering in the dayside cusp. The possible mechanism of generation is the ion-cyclotron instability of plasma of finite pressure (β_⊥ ? 1) and with anisotropic temperature (T_⊥ > T_∥).     

Locating the Pc 1 generation region by a statistical analysis of ground based observations

A statistical study using data from four geomagnetic recording stations with McIlwain parameters from L = 2.5 to 6.6, suggests that the general source location of Pc 1 micropulsations lies close to the plasmapause.For each station a contour plot of the number of Pc 1 events occurring at specific K_p, and LT intervals is constructed and a curve representing the plasmapause being overhead at this station is superimposed. The relative positions of the plasmapause curve and the contour maxima are taken to indicate the position of the Pc 1 source location.     

Some properties of geomagnetic field pulsations in the 0.1–1.0-Hz frequency range: A quantitative description and comparison with the satellite and ground-based observations

By using an image-dipole magnetic field model for a variety of plasma density profiles we have studied the latitude effect of the 0.1–1.0-Hz hydromagnetic wave propagation in the Earth's magnetosphere. On comparing the results of signal group delay time calculations for dipole and model magnetic fields with ground and satellite observations we obtain some propagation characteristics of Pc1s and localize the regions of their generation. Our results show that most high-latitude Pc1 events are generated in the outer magnetosphere in accordance with ground and satellite observations and theoretical considerations. The non-dipole geometry of the geomagnetic field in the outer magnetosphere (at geomagnetic latitudes φ₀ > 66°, L > 6) has a significant effect on the hydromagnetic wave propagation.     

Solitonic, quasi-periodic and periodic pattern of electron acoustic waves in quantum plasma

In the present paper we investigate the nonlinear wave structures of electron acoustic waves (EAWs) in an unmagnetized quantum plasma consisting of cold and hot electrons and ions. The one-dimensional quantum hydrodynamic model is used to study the quantum correction of the well known EAWs. Computational investigations have been performed to examine the effects of quantum diffraction and Mach number on nonlinear waves. It is shown that for Mach number M<1, soliton solution exist and for M>1, quasi-periodic and periodic type solution exist. The effects of other several parameters on the properties of EAWs are also discussed.     

Asymmetry of compton scattering by relativistic electrons with an isotropic velocity distribution: Astrophysical implications

The angular distribution of low-frequency radiation after a single scattering by relativistic electrons with an isotropic velocity distribution differs markedly from the Rayleigh angular function. In particular, the scattering by an ensemble of ultrarelativistic electrons is described by the law p=1?cosα, where α is the scattering angle. Thus, photons are mostly scattered backward. We discuss some consequences of this fact for astrophysical problems. We show that a hot atmosphere of scattering electrons is more reflective than a cold one: the fraction of incident photons reflected after a single scattering can be larger than that in the former case by up to 50%. This must affect the photon exchange between cold accretion disks and hot coronae (or advective flows) near relativistic compact objects, as well as the rate of cooling (through multiple inverse-Compton scattering of the photons supplied from outside) of optically thick clouds of relativistic electrons in compact radio sources. Scattering asymmetry also causes the spatial diffusion of photons to proceed more slowly in a hot plasma than in a cold one, which affects the shapes of Comptonization spectra and the time delay in the detection of soft and hard radiation from variable X-ray sources.     

Do we need a surface wave approach to the magnetospheric resonances?

In this paper we study a possible existence of surface wave (SW) global modes of the outer magnetosphere. The SW modes are supported by two plasma discontinuities: the plasmapause and the boundary between the open and closed field lines of the magnetosphere. Conditions under which the SW global modes can propagate azimuthally and along the magnetic field lines are examined. The ionosphere at the ends of the field lines is considered as reflecting boundaries of these SW modes. As a result SW standing wave structures along the magnetic field fluxes can be formed. Two branches of SW modes are derived. The low frequency branch, f_s,1 falls in the Pc5 range, while the high frequency branch, f_s,2—in the Pc4 range, where f_s,1(2) is the fundamental SW global mode frequency. Their frequencies possess quantized properties in the following way: f≡(1,2,3, …)f_s,1(2). The high frequency SW branch, f_s,2 exists only for relatively great azimuthal wavenumbers k_⊥. It is pointed out that most of the SW global mode characteristics are similar to those of the FLR. These results are applied to 1.8 mHz global mode observations on 11 January 1997. Spectral, phase and polarization properties of this Pc5 pulsation event under northward IMF conditions are examined as we see them from ground-based (L’Aquila and TNB observatories) and satellite (POLAR and INTERBALL) observations.     

Propagation of two-solitons in an electron acoustic waves in a plasma with electrons featuring Tsallis distribution

A first theoretical work is presented to study the propagation of two-solitons in an electron acoustic waves (EAWs) within the theoretical framework of the Tsallis statistical mechanics. For this purpose, cylindrical and spherical Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equations are derived for electron acoustic solitary waves (EASWs) in an unmagnetized three species plasma system comprised of cold electrons, immobile ions and hot electrons featuring Tsallis statistics by employing the standard reductive perturbation method. The effects of electron nonextensivity and the fractional number density of the hot electrons relative to that of the cold ones number density (α) on the profiles of two-soliton structures are investigated numerically. Results would be helpful for understanding the localized structures that may occur in space plasmas.     

Local time asymmetry in the characteristics of Pc5 magnetic pulsations

The wave characteristics of Pc5 magnetic pulsations are analyzed with data of OGO-5, ISEE-1 and -2 satellites. The toroidal modes (δB_D >δB_H) of Pc5 pulsations are observed at a higher magnetic latitude in the dawnside outer magnetosphere. The compressional and poloidal modes (δB_z.dfnc; ～ δB_H >δB_D) of Pc5 pulsations are mostly observed near the magnetic equator in the duskside outer magnetosphere. This L.T. asymmetry in the occurrence of dominant modes of Pc5's in space can be explained by the velocity shear instability (Yumoto and Saito, 1980) in the magnetospheric boundary layer, where Alfvénic signals in the IMF medium are assumed to penetrate into the magnetospheric boundary layer along the Archimedean spiral. The asymmetrical behaviour of Pc5 pulsation activity on the ground across the noon meridian can be also explained by the ionospheric screening effect on the compressional Pc5 magnetic pulsations. The compressional modes with a large horizontal wave number in the duskside magnetosphere are expected to be suppressed on the ground throughout the ionosphere and atmosphere.     

Propagation of cylindrical and spherical electron-acoustic solitary wave packets in unmagnetized plasma

Investigation of nonlinear wave modulation of electron-acoustic solitary wave packets in planar as well as nonplanar geometry is carried out for an unmagnetized two temperature plasma composed of cold and hot (featuring q-nonextensive distribution) electrons with stationary ions. It is shown that in such plasma, propagation of EA wave packets is governed by a modified NLSE which accounts for the geometrical effect and the nonextensivity of the hot electron species. It is found that the nature of the modulational instabilities would be significantly modified due to the geometrical effects, density ratio α of the hot-to-cold electrons species as well as their temperature ratio θ. Also, there exists a modulation instability period for the cylindrical and spherical envelope excitations, which does not exist in the one-dimensional case. Furthermore, spherical EA solitary wave packets are more structurally stable to perturbations than the cylindrical ones. The relevance of the current study to EA wave modulation in auroral zone plasma is highlighted.     

Observations of forced oscillations of the magnetosphere by a geostationary satellite and an extensive ground magnetometer array

We present results from the analysis of magnetometer measurements of one of the clearest observations of a double resonance Pc4 pulsation to date. The Pc4, with a period of 55 s, was measured by 18 ground magnetometers and also on board the ATS-6 satellite at geostationary orbit. Using a subsequent observation of a second harmonic guided poloidal mode pulsation at ATS-6, we have been able to estimate the plasma density at geostationary orbit. We then calculated periods of theoretical cavity mode resonances in the plasmatrough and the eigenperiods of different wave modes and harmonics at geostationary orbit. We developed a model of the variation of plasma density, and hence eigenperiods, within the magnetosphere which is consistent with these calculations and with the amplitude, phase and ellipticity observations made over the array of ground observatories. In this model we suggest that hydromagnetic field line resonances occur in the plasmatrough and in the plasmasphcre, which are the second and fundamental harmonic guided toroidal mode resonances, respectively. The model also allows us to evaluate the damping experienced by hydromagnetic standing waves in the magnetosphere. The damping is found to be slightly higher than that previously suggested for daytime conditions.