Home » Balikhin et al. 2015

Observations of discrete harmonics emerging from equatorial noise

Balikhin M. A., Y. Y. Shprits, S. N. Walker, L. Chen, N. Cornilleau-Wehrlin, I. Dandouras, O. Santolik, C. Carr, K. H. Yearby, B. Weiss, (2015), Observations of discrete harmonics emerging from equatorial noise, Nature Communications, 6, doi:10.1038/ncomms8703

Abstract

A number of modes of oscillations of particles and fields can exist in space plasmas. Since the early 1970s, space missions have observed noise-like plasma waves near the geomagnetic equator known as ‘equatorial noise’. Several theories were suggested, but clear observational evidence supported by realistic modelling has not been provided. Here we report on observations by the Cluster mission that clearly show the highly structured and periodic pattern of these waves. Very narrow-banded emissions at frequencies corresponding to exact multiples of the proton gyrofrequency (frequency of gyration around the field line) from the 17th up to the 30th harmonic are observed, indicating that these waves are generated by the proton distributions. Simultaneously with these coherent periodic structures in waves, the Cluster spacecraft observes ‘ring’ distributions of protons in velocity space that provide the free energy for the waves. Calculated wave growth based on ion distributions shows a very similar pattern to the observations.

Authors (sorted by name)

Chen Shprits

Journal / Conference

Nature Communications

Bibtex

@article{10.1038/ncomms8703,
  author={ Balikhin, Michael A. and Shprits, Yuri Y. and Walker, Simon N. and Chen, Lunjin and Cornilleau-Wehrlin, Nicole and Dandouras, Iannis and Santolik, Ondrej and Carr, Christopher and Yearby, Keith H. and Weiss, Benjamin},
  title={Observations of discrete harmonics emerging from equatorial noise},
  journal={Nature Communications},
  volume={6},
  number={7703},
  year={2015},
doi = {10.1038/ncomms8703},
  abstract={A number of modes of oscillations of particles and fields can exist in space plasmas. Since the early 1970s, space missions have observed noise-like plasma waves near the geomagnetic equator known as ‘equatorial noise’. Several theories were suggested, but clear observational evidence supported by realistic modelling has not been provided. Here we report on observations by the Cluster mission that clearly show the highly structured and periodic pattern of these waves. Very narrow-banded emissions at frequencies corresponding to exact multiples of the proton gyrofrequency (frequency of gyration around the field line) from the 17th up to the 30th harmonic are observed, indicating that these waves are generated by the proton distributions. Simultaneously with these coherent periodic structures in waves, the Cluster spacecraft observes ‘ring’ distributions of protons in velocity space that provide the free energy for the waves. Calculated wave growth based on ion distributions shows a very similar pattern to the observations.}
}