Penetration to the Earth’s surface of standing Alfvén waves excited by external currents in the ionosphere

The problem of boundary conditions for monochromatic Alfvén waves, excited in the magnetosphere by external currents in the ionospheric E-layer, is solved analytically. Waves with large azimuthal wave numbers m≫1 are considered. In our calculations, we used a model for the horizontally homogeneous ionosphere with an arbitrary inclination of geomagnetic field lines and a realistic height disribution of Alfvén velocity and conductivity tensor components. A relationship between such Alfvén waves on the upper ionospheric boundary with electromagnetic oscillations on the ground was detected, and the spatial structure of these oscillations determined.     

A determination of the hydromagnetic waves polarization from their perturbations on the terminator

The influence of the homogeneous and inhomogeneous ionosphere on the orientation angle of the horizontal magnetic vectors of the long-time geomagnetic pulsations is under consideration in this study. It was realized that this angle is small in the case of the homogeneous ionosphere for both the Alfvén and magnetosonic types of oscillations. An increase in the ionospheric electric field was discovered as the ionospheric conductivity changes during the switch from day to night conditions. It is valid only for the initial Alfvén wave. The ionospheric equivalent current systems excited by the initial magnetospheric waves of Alfvén and magnetosonic types as well as their behavior near the terminator were studied for different seasons. For the Alfvén source, seasonal variations of the orientation angle close to sunrise at the equator depend on the type of source: odd or even modes of Alfvén oscillations excite observable pulsations. It was found that the ionospheric two-vortex equivalent current system of the long-period pulsations arising in high-latitudes in the equatorial region alters not only its direction, but its intensity too. The largest anomaly (\sim25% of the source value) would be expected near the terminator. A new experimental method was suggested to recognize the type of incident magnetospheric waves by implementing observations either at a single observatory or at a couple of observatories. In the case of a single observatory it is proposed to study the frequency dependence of the orientation angle of their magnetic components close to sunrise. If the initial wave is magnetosonic, this angle must not be changed as a function of the local time within the wide frequency range of pulsations. When pulsations have an orientation angle sensitive to the presence of the terminator, they may be classified as both Alfvén and magnetosonic. For the Alfvén waves no frequency dependence of the orientational angle is peculiar. On the contrary, magnetosonic waves should be determined as oscillations with an orientational angle proportional to the frequency. These oscillations may be revealed at observatories located on the high-resistance cross sections. The example of the spectral-temporal analysis of pulsation at the equatorial observatory in Huancayo was demonstrated to confirm the proposed experimental technique. A weak dependence of the orientation angle anomaly on the frequency near the terminator was found. The latter is evidence for the dominant contribution of the Alfvén waves to low-latitude and equatorial oscillations.     

Spatial transport and spectral transfer of solar wind turbulence composed of Alfvén waves and convective structures II: numerical results

This work follows the paper titled “Spatial transport and spectral transfer of solar wind turbulence composed of Alfvén waves and convective structures I: The theoretical model”, and deals with the detailed physics and numerical solution of a two-component solar wind model, consisting of small-scale Alfvén waves and convected structures. In particular, we present numerical results which qualitatively reflect many of the observed features of the radial and spectral evolution of the turbulent energies, the residual energy, the cross-helicity and Alfvén-ratio in high-speed solar wind streams. These features are the following: the formation of a characteristic “inclined eye”, which evolves between the energy spectra displayed over the frequency axis and tends to close in the radial development of the spectra, a steepening of all spectra towards Kolmogorov-like f^-5/3 spectra, the development of the normalized cross-helicity towards a constant not much less than one and the formation of a “trough” form of the Alfvén ratio with a z-shaped left boundary, By weighting special terms in the equations differently, we can also cast light on the physical role of parametric conversion model terms, wave-structure scattering model terms, nonlinear terms, spherical expansion terms and their effects on the radial evolution of turbulent energies in high-speed solar wind streams.     

Alfvén wave coupling in the auroral current circuit

Auroral phenomena are controlled by the geomagnetic field.Since the terrestrial field lines connect the auroral oval to the equatorial region at large distances, the collisionless plasma in this remote space environment can act as a power supply for the high-latitude upper atmosphere where auroral emissions take place. The coupling process is intimately linked to currents which flow across the local magnetic field direction both in the equatorial part and at the atmospheric end of the auroral field lines. These two auroral key regions are connected through currents flowing along the terrestrial field lines, thereby completing the auroral current circuit. Such field-aligned currents are carried by Alfvén waves, that is, magnetohydrodynamic shear waves, which are thus a means to exchange momentum and energybetween rather remote parts of the geomagnetically controlledspace environment. Auroral dynamics is further affected by a third key region in the auroral current circuit, namely the auroral acceleration region, where parallel electric fields accelerate particle to keV energies. This review focuses on key region coupling through Alfvén waves. Continuity requirements for currents and electric fields provide a convenient means to describe the interaction of Alfvén waves with different plasma regimes. Basic coupling aspects can be demonstrated with the help of a simplified model. Inhomogeneities and nonlinear feedback can lead to resonance effects and instabilities.     

Ponderomotive effects in magnetospheric hydromagnetic waves

The ponderomotive force (PMF) is a ubiquitous nonlinear wave effect arising in plasma physics when applied wave fields or plasma parameters have significant spatial gradients. Some basic properties of the PMF are described as they relate to ULF hydromagnetic waves in the magnetosphere. Examples are given of recent results obtained using both analytical and numerical techniques for waves from the lowest frequencies (determined by the dimensions of the magnetosphere) up to the vicinity of the ion cyclotron frequency. These results include the possibilities that the PMF may transport plasma over large distances in the magnetosphere, and that the PMF may energize magnetospheric ions significantly. In particular the PMF may play a role in transporting and energizing O⁺ ions from the ionosphere into the body of the magnetosphere. The PMF can also generate nonlinear coupling between the slow magnetosonic mode and the other hydromagnetic modes. This should lead to limitation of density enhancements and, notably in the case of standing Alfvén waves, to spatial harmonic generation, secularly growing frequency shifts, and saturation of driven wave fields. Some implications of these results for the magnetosphere are discussed.Based on an invited review given in IAGA Symposium 3.07, Nonlinear and Kinetic Effects in ULF Waves, at the IUGG XXI General Assembly, Boulder, Colorado, July 2-14, 1995.     

Numerical Simulation of the High-Latitude Non-Stationary Ionospheric Alfvén Resonator During an IPDP Event

The ionospheric Alfvén resonator (IAR) was numerically simulated under non-stationary ionospheric and magnetospheric conditions of the IPDP event of December 4, 1986. The full numerical wave method was applied using height profiles of the ionospheric plasma parameters obtained from the Scandinavian EISCAT radar measurements close to the Ivalo latitude. An attempt to model the inverse problem of numerical simulation—prolongation of the electron density profiles at altitudes above the ionospheric F layer—was made on the basis of the IAR simulation in correlation with the IPDP frequency increase. The change of the IAR wave characteristics during the substorm was illustrated by height profiles of the total wave amplitude and various polarization characteristics, taking into consideration the ordinary L-mode and the extraordinary R-mode waves for parallel and non-parallel incidence with respect to the magnetic field line.     

Coherent multiple Pc1 pulsation bands: possible evidence for the ionospheric Alfvén resonator

A fair fraction of Pc1 pulsation events observed on the ground includes more than one simultaneous pulsation band. In most such multiband events the bands display different characteristics and, therefore, come from different source regions via horizontal ducting in the ionosphere. However, in this report we identify a new “coherent” subclass of multiband Pc1 events where the pearls of the simultaneous bands have the same group velocities (repetition rates) as well as dispersion and other properties, thus implying that the bands are produced by the same source. Studying one example of such a coherent multiband event in more detail, we argue that these events defy an explanation in terms of band splitting by magnetospheric heavy ions because the observed frequency gap between the bands is smaller than would result in such a case. We interpret these events to be due to the frequency dependence of the ionospheric reflection coefficient of Alfvén waves. An oscillatory frequency dependence of the coefficient is a natural consequence of the idea that the ionosphere acts as a resonator for Alfvén waves. We also discuss other predictions of this interpretation.     

地球弓激波前的低频磁流体波

一、引言 在地球弓激波前存在着低频磁流体波。这种低频磁流体波是太阳风在地球弓激波上的反射粒子和太阳风粒子之间相互作用产生的。根据人造卫星的观测资料可以得到,在地球弓激波前,Pc3-4脉动频率范围内的低频磁流体波的主频率和行星际磁场强度     

A nonlinear,resistive boundary layer in rotating hydromagnetic flow

A new nonlinear boundary layer in rotating hydromagnetic flows is presented. The purpose of this layer is to provide a smooth transition between the magnetic field at a rigid, electrically insulating boundary and that far from the boundary. The boundary layer problem is solved in a cylindrical geometry, assuming that the variables obey the hydromagnetic analog of the von Karman similarity. The primary momentum balance within this boundary layer is between pressure, Coriolis and hydromagnetic forces; the viscous and nonlinear inertia forces are unimportant. Diffusion of the magnetic field is balanced by advection where the advecting fluid flow is induced by the action of the hydromagnetic body forces within the boundary layer. The structure of the layer depends upon a single parameter which measures the strength of the normal magnetic field. Steady solutions are presented and their uniqueness and temporal stability are analyzed. The relevance of this layer to the core of the Earth is discussed. It is estimated that this boundary layer would be at least as thick as one tenth of the core radius if it exists within the core.     

地磁场能量在地球内部的分布及其长期变化

用国际参考地磁场模型(IGRF)分析了地磁场能量在地球内部的分布及其长期变化.结果表明,从1900年到2005年,地核以外地磁场总能量由6.818×1018J减少到6.594×1018J,减小了3.3%,地表以外地磁场总能量由8.658×101J减小到.63×101J,减小了11.4%.分析地球内部不同圈层地磁场能量的变化表明,地壳(A层)、上地幔(B层)、转换带(C层)、下地幔D′层的地磁场总能量在减小,但是下地幔"层的地磁场总能量却在快速增加.磁能密度随时间的变化更清楚地显示出磁能增加和减小的分界面在r=3840km处.上述结果表明,地核和地表以外地磁场总能量在趋势性减小的同时,也在进行重新分配.进一步分析表明,下地幔D"层磁能快速增长,主要是由高阶磁多极子的增强引起的.在地磁场倒转前,偶极矩减小而多极性相对增强在能量分布上的表现就是磁能向下地幔底部(特别是D"层)集中.     

Global P-wave tomography: On the effect of various mantle and core phases

In this work, many global tomographic inversions and resolution tests are carried out to investigate the influence of various mantle and core phase data from the International Seismological Center (ISC) data set on the determination of 3D velocity structure of the Earth's interior. Our results show that, when only the direct P data are used, the resolution is good for most of the mantle except for the oceanic regions down to about 1000 km depth and for most of the D″ layer, and PP rays can provide a better constraint on the structure down to the middle mantle, in particular for the upper mantle under the oceans. PcP can enhance the ray sampling of the middle and lower mantle around the Pacific rim and Europe, while Pdiff can help improve the spatial resolution in the lowermost mantle. The outer core phases (PKP, PKiKP and PKKP) can improve the resolution in the lowermost mantle of the southern hemisphere and under oceanic regions. When finer blocks or grid nodes are adopted to determine a high-resolution model, pP data are very useful for improving the upper mantle structure. The resulting model inferred from all phases not only displays the general features contained in the previous global tomographic models, but also reveals some new features. For example, the image of the Hawaiian mantle plume is improved notably over the previous studies. It is imaged as a continuous low velocity anomaly beneath the Hawaiian hotspot from the core-mantle boundary (CMB) to the surface, implying that the Hawaiian mantle plume indeed originates from the CMB. Low-velocity anomalies along some mid-oceanic ridges extend down to about 600 km depth. Our results suggested that later seismic phases are of great importance in better understanding the structure and dynamics of the Earth's interior.     

Identification of low-frequency kinetic wave modes in the Earth’s ion foreshock

In this work we use ion and magnetic field data from the AMPTE-UKS mission to study the characteristics of low frequency (_{r p}) waves observed upstream of the Earths bow shock. We test the application of various plasma-field correlations and magnetic ratios derived from linear Vlasov theory to identify the modes in this region. We evaluate (for a parameter space consistent with the ion foreshock) the Alfvén ratio, the parallel compressibility, the crosshelicity, the noncoplanar ratio, the magnetic compression and the polarization for the two kinetic instabilities that can be generated in the foreshock by the interaction of hot diffuse ions with the solar wind: the left-hand resonant and the right-hand resonant ion beam instabilities. Comparison of these quantities with the observed plasma-field correlations and various magnetic properties of the waves observed during 10 intervals on 30 October 1984, where the waves are associated with diffuse ions, allows us to identify regions with Alfvénic waves and regions where the predominant mode is the right-hand resonant instability. In all the cases the waves are transverse, propagating at angles 33° and are elliptically polarized. Our results suggest that while the observed Alfvén waves are generated locally by hot diffuse ions, the right-handed waves may result from the superposition of waves generated by two different types of beam distribution (i.e. cold beam and diffuse ions). Even when there was good agreement between the values of observed transport ratios and the values given by the theory, some discrepancies were found. This shows that the observed waves are different from the theoretical modes and that mode identification based only on polarization quantities does not give a complete picture of the waves characteristics and can lead to mode identification of waves whose polarization may agree with theoretical predictions even when other properties can diverge from those of the theoretical modes.     

Standing Alfvén waves with m ≫ 1 in an axisymmetric magnetosphere excited by a stochastic source

In the framework of an axisymmetric magnetospheric model, we have constructed a theory for broad-band standing Alfvén waves with large azimuthal wave number m 1 excited by a stochastic source. External currents in the ionosphere are taken as the oscillation source. The source with statistical properties of –white noise is considered at length. It is shown that such a source drives oscillations which also have the –white noise properties. The spectrum of such oscillations for each harmonic of standing Alfvén waves has two maxima: near the poloidal and toroidal eigenfre-quencies of the magnetic shell of the observation. In the case of a small attenuation in the ionosphere the maximum near the toroidal frequency is dominated, and the oscillations are nearly toroidally polarized. With a large attenuation, a maximum is dominant near the poloidal frequency, and the oscillations are nearly poloidally polarized.     

On the mathematical modelling of the spectral structure of geomagneticPC1 pulsations via the response of Alfvén's ionospheric resonator

Summary A method of numerical simulation of the coefficient of reflection of the ionospheric transition layer as a function of frequency is applied to the experimental data related to several series of pearl-type pulsations Pc1 (f = 0.2 – 2 Hz) recorded at the observatories of Kerguelen, Sogra and Nurmijarvi. The inverse problem of modelling, i.e. determining the vertical profiles of ionospheric electron concentration corresponding to the actual experimental situations, was solved approximately. The initial assumption for interpreting the specific nature of the series of Pc1 micropulsations parallel in time was their resonance origin under reflection of the signal at magnetically conjugate ionospheres, Alfvén's resonators, in both of the Earth's hemispheres.     

Isotope systematics of noble gases in the Earth's mantle: possible sources of primordial isotopes and implications for mantle structure

The Earth's mantle contains a mixture of primordial noble gases, in particular solar-type helium and neon, and radiogenic rare gases from long-lived U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and short-lived ¹²⁹I, ²⁴⁴Pu. Rocks derived from deep mantle plume magmatism like on Hawaii or Iceland contain a higher proportion of primordial nuclides than rocks from the shallow upper mantle, e.g. mid ocean ridge basalts (MORBs). This is widely regarded as the key evidence for survival of a less degassed and more “primitive” reservoir within the lower mantle. We present an evaluation of noble gas composition showing the shallow mantle to have about five times more radiogenic (relative to primordial) isotopes than Hawaii/Iceland-type plume reservoirs, no matter if short- or long-lived decay systems are considered. This fundamental property suggests that both MORB and plume-type noble gases are mixtures of: (1) a homogeneous radiogenic component present throughout most of the mantle and (2) a uniform primordial noble gas component with very minor radiogenic ingrowth. This conclusion depends crucially on the observed excess of radiogenic Xe in plume-derived rocks, and is only valid if this Xe excess is inherent to the plume sources.Possible sources of the primordial component of mantle plume reservoirs—and possibly also the MORB mantle—could be mantle reservoirs that remained relatively isolated over most of Earth's history (“blobs”, a deep abyssal layer, or the D” layer), but these need a considerable concentration of primordial gases to compensate U, Th, K decay over 4.5 Ga. Earth's core is evaluated as an alternative viable source feeding primordial nuclides into mantle reservoirs: even low metal-silicate partitioning coefficients allow sufficient primordial noble gases to be incorporated into the early forming core, as the undifferentiated proto-Earth was initially gas-rich. Massive mantle degassing soon after core formation then provides the opposite concentration gradient that allows primordial noble gases reentering the mantle at the core-mantle boundary, probably via partial mantle melts. Another possible source of primordial noble gases in Earth's mantle are subducted sediments containing extraterrestrial dust with solar He and Ne, but this supply mechanism crucially depends on largely unconstrained parameters. The latter two scenarios do not require the preservation of a “primitive” mantle reservoir over 4.5 Ga, and can potentially better reconcile increasing geochemical evidence of recycled lithospheric components in mantle plumes and seismic evidence for whole mantle convection.     

Broadband Plasma Waves In The MagnetopauseAnd Polar Cap Boundary Layers

Boundary layers occurring in the magnetosphere can support a wide spectrumof plasma waves spanning a frequency range of a few mHz to tens of kHz andbeyond. This review describes the main characteristics of the broadband plasma waves observed in the Earth's low-latitude magnetopause boundary layer (LLBL), in the polar cap boundary layer (PCBL), and the possible generation mechanisms. The broadband waves at the low-latitude boundary layer are sufficiently intense to cause the diffusion of the magnetosheath plasma across the closed magnetospheric field lines at a rate rapid enough to populate and maintain the boundary layer itself. The rapid pitch angle scattering of energetic particles via cyclotron resonant interactionswith the waves can provide sufficient precipitation energy flux to the ionosphere to create the dayside aurora. In general, the broadband plasma waves may play an important part in the processes of local heating/acceleration of the boundary layer plasma.     

Hydromagnetic spin-up under conditions of the earth's core-mantle boundary

Summary The disturbances of the velocity and magnetic fields close to the Earth's core-mantle boundary, caused by sudden irregular changes in the Earth's rotation, are investigated. The problem leads to the investigation of the structure of the Ekman-Hartman hydromagnetic boundary layer, the magnetic diffusive region and the currentless region. Precise Laplacean inversions of the images of all disturbances in the Earth's core-mantle system are obtained for the limiting case of a zero magnetic Prandtl number, =0. The disturbance of the velocity in the direction of the axis of rotation (Ekman suction) in the currentless region has the nature of inertial oscillations with a frequency of 2. Additional disturbances (with respect to the case of =0) of the velocity in the azimuthal and radial directions, particularly for the EHL and MDR region, are determined for the case when 0< « 1. The disturbance in the velocity again has the character of inertial oscillations with the frequency 2, being exponentially damped in EHL asexp (–2²t) and in MDR asexp (–²t).     

Numerical Estimate of the Spectral Resonance Structure Frequency Scale of Natural ULF Magnetic Field

The spectral resonance structure (SRS) of the magnetic component of natural electromagnetic noise in the frequency range 0.5 – 2.5 Hz is investigated to estimate the frequency scale of the structure. The magnetic field data recorded at 49°20'N, 22°40'E, in the Bieszczady Mountains, Poland, at night hours of May 1996 – 2001 are used. It is assumed that the resonant frequency pattern of the ionospheric Alfvén resonance (IAR) appears in the spectral resonance structure. Both a model of the ionospheric Alfvén resonance for night-time conditions of the ionosphere and an algorithm of evaluating the frequency scale are presented. The algorithm is applied to the experimental data. The results are compared to those obtained with the International Reference Ionosphere model.     

A study of phase-steepened Alfvén waves in a high-speed stream at 0.29 AU

This work performs a search of phase-steepened Alfvén waves under a priori ideal conditions: a high-speed solar wind stream observed in one of the closest approaches to the Sun by any spacecraft (Helios 2). Five potential candidates were initially found following procedures established in earlier work. The observed cases exhibited arc-like or elliptical polarizations, and the rotational discontinuities that formed the abrupt wave edges were found at either the leading or the trailing part. The consideration of some additional specific parameters (mainly related to the relative orientation between mean magnetic field, wave and discontinuity) has been suggested here for an ultimate and proper identification of this kind of phenomenon. After the inclusion of these calculations in our analysis, even fewer cases than the five originals remain. It is suggested that optimum conditions for the detection rather than just for the existence of these events have to be reconsidered.     

Alfvén intermittency in space plasmas

The onset of Alfvén intermittent chaos in space plasmas is studied by numerically solving the derivative non-linear Schrödinger equation (DNLS) under the assumption of stationary Alfvén waves. We describe how the Alfvénic fluctuations of the magnetic field can evolve from periodic to chaotic behavior through a sequence of bifurcations as the plasma dissipation is varied. The collision of a chaotic attractor with an unstable periodic orbit leads to the generation of strongly chaotic behavior, in an event known as interior crisis. We also show that in the DNLS equation, chaotic attractors coexist with nonattracting chaotic sets responsible for transient chaotic behaviors. After the interior crisis point, a wide chaotic attractor can be decomposed into two coupled nonattracting chaotic sets, resulting in intermittent chaotic time series. Understanding transient chaos is a key to understand intermittency in space plasmas.