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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH,
VOL. 113,
A12217,
9 PP., 2008
doi:10.1029/2008JA013366
Ultra-low-frequency waves and associated wave vectors observed in the plasma sheet boundary layer by Cluster
Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
Department of Physics, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Department of Physics, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, CNRS, Toulouse, France
Waves in the Pc1–Pc2 frequency range (0.1–5 Hz) are studied using Cluster magnetic field data. In the plasma sheet boundary layer, Cluster observed harmonically related waves with the fundamental near the local proton cyclotron frequency (Ωp). These waves had components both parallel and perpendicular to the local magnetic field (B 0). Application of the wave telescope yielded the full wave vector (k) of the waves and showed that they propagated nearly perpendicular to B 0. Associated with the waves were two counterstreaming ion beams with a relative velocity of approximately 4000 km/s. During wave activity, the tailward streaming beam increased in energy flux, and subsequently, energy flux increased in directions perpendicular to B 0. We suggest two possible sources for the waves: inverse Landau resonance with an accelerated electron beam and an electromagnetic ion/ion cyclotron instability. The change in the ion distribution suggests these waves could contribute to the formation of the hot protons of the central plasma sheet.
Received 2 May 2008; accepted 1 August 2008; published 31 December 2008.
Citation: (2008), Ultra-low-frequency waves and associated wave vectors observed in the plasma sheet boundary layer by Cluster, J. Geophys. Res., 113, A12217, doi:10.1029/2008JA013366.
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