An Alternative Interpretation of Ion Ring Distribution Observed by the S3-3 Satellite.

Gorney, D. J.

doi:10.21236/ada157655

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“… Kintner [1980] distinguished between the occurrence of EIC waves and waves at higher harmonics (>3) of the cyclotron frequency and suggested that the positive perpendicular velocity derivative of the distribution function of ion conics could drive the higher harmonics. Gorney [1983], using S3‐3 data, and Peterson [1984], using DE 1 data, showed that the observed positive slope in the ion distribution was due to down‐flowing ions in the cusp rather than to ion conics. Waves with similar features in Viking data at higher altitudes were also described by Koskinen et al [1987], who suggested that the free energy source could be the loss cone feature in the high‐energy plasma sheet ions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

FAST observations of discrete electrostatic waves in association with down‐going ion beams in the auroral zone

Cattell

Johnson

Bergmann

et al. 2002

Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics

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[1] Ion beams flowing downward, into the ionosphere, along the Earth's magnetic field have frequently been observed by the FAST satellite in the auroral zone. These discrete downward moving ion beams (DFI) have been characterized by Klumpar et al. [1999] who interpreted the horseshoe-shaped distributions as being consistent with acceleration in a parallel potential drop above the satellite, followed by motion into a region of increased magnetic field strength. The down-flowing ion beams are associated with an intense narrowband electrostatic emission at the lower hybrid frequency, polarized perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. Hydrogen cyclotron harmonics both above and below the lower hybrid frequency are also very common. These are the first observations of down-flowing ions and associated waves outside of the cusp, and the physical mechanism producing the ions is very different from the one associated with cusp ion injections. The DFI events that had a monotonic increase in energy were associated with a clear field-aligned current signature. The DFI densities were usually $5-10/cc, whereas the background plasma had densities up to 100/cc. The wave and DFI observations are consistent with linear dispersion relation calculations and simulations with ion ring distributions that show that the instability is due to coupling of the ion Bernstein waves to the lower hybrid wave. In addition, for a few events, electrostatic ion cyclotron waves were observed. Such waves are usually associated with up-going ion beams and have not previously been seen with DFI, which have a very different shape in the distribution.

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