Resonant drift echoes in electron phase space density produced by dayside Pc5 waves following a geomagnetic storm

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Rankin, Robert
  • Degeling, Alex W.

• The interaction between relativistic, equatorially mirroring electrons and Pc5 Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) waves in the magnetosphere is investigated using a numerical MagnetoHydroDynamic (MHD) model for waves and a test-kinetic model for electron phase space density (PSD). The temporal and spatial characteristics of a ULF activity following a geomagnetic storm on 24 March 1991, which occured from 1200 to 1340 Universal Time (UT). A salient feature of the ULF waves during this interval was the apparent localization of the ULF wave power to the dayside of the magnetosphere and the antisunward propagation of ULF wave phase in the morning and afternoon sectors. This is interpreted to imply a localized source of ULF wave power close to noon Magnetic Local Time (MLT) at the magnetopause. The expected electron dynamics are investigated using model wavefields to predict the observable characteristics of the interaction in satellite electron flux data. The wave and kinetic models show that the localized radial motion of magnetic field lines associated with MHD fast waves propagating from the ULF source region acts to periodically inject electrons from high L to lower L within the magnetosphere. This action becomes resonant when the drift period of the electrons matches a multiple of the ULF wave period and leads to an enhancement in radial transport.

• Date created

  2008

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Fluxes
  • Fields
  • Acceleration
  • Diffusion
  • Ionosphere
  • Chorus
  • Inner Magnetosphere
  • Radiation Belt
  • Particles

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R32N4ZZ4M

• License

  © 2008 American Geophysical Union. This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited.