Low-frequency Whistler Waves Modulate Electrons and Generate Higher-frequency Whistler Waves in the Solar WindShandong Univ, Inst Space Sci, Shandong Prov Key Lab Opt Astron & Solar Terr Env, Weihai 264209, Peoples R China..
Peking Univ, Sch Earth & Space Sci, Beijing 100871, Peoples R China..
Univ Calif Los Angeles, Dept Atmospher & Ocean Sci, Los Angeles, CA USA..
Shandong Univ, Inst Space Sci, Shandong Prov Key Lab Opt Astron & Solar Terr Env, Weihai 264209, Peoples R China..
Univ Alaska Fairbanks, Phys Dept, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA.;Univ Alaska Fairbanks, Geophys Inst, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA..
Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Geol & Geophys, Key Lab Earth & Planetary Phys, Beijing 100029, Peoples R China..
Beihang Univ, Sch Space & Environm, Beijing 100191, Peoples R China..
Beihang Univ, Sch Space & Environm, Beijing 100191, Peoples R China..
Univ Michigan, Dept Climate & Space Sci & Engn, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA..
Shandong Univ, Inst Space Sci, Shandong Prov Key Lab Opt Astron & Solar Terr Env, Weihai 264209, Peoples R China..
Chinese Acad Sci, Natl Space Sci Ctr, State Key Lab Space Weather, Beijing 100190, Peoples R China..
Peking Univ, Sch Earth & Space Sci, Beijing 100871, Peoples R China..
Univ Paris Saclay, Lab Phys Plasmas, Obs Paris, Ecole Polytech,Inst Polytech Paris,CNRS, Paris, France..
Shandong Univ, Inst Space Sci, Shandong Prov Key Lab Opt Astron & Solar Terr Env, Weihai 264209, Peoples R China..
Shandong Univ, Inst Space Sci, Shandong Prov Key Lab Opt Astron & Solar Terr Env, Weihai 264209, Peoples R China..
Shandong Univ, Inst Space Sci, Shandong Prov Key Lab Opt Astron & Solar Terr Env, Weihai 264209, Peoples R China..
Univ New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA..
Univ Colorado, Dept Astrophys & Planetary Sci, Boulder, CO 80309 USA..
NASA, Goddard Space Flight Ctr, Greenbelt, MD USA..
Show others and affiliations
2021 (English)In: Astrophysical Journal, ISSN 0004-637X, E-ISSN 1538-4357, Vol. 923, no 2, article id 216Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The role of whistler-mode waves in the solar wind and the relationship between their electromagnetic fields and charged particles is a fundamental question in space physics. Using high-temporal-resolution electromagnetic field and plasma data from the Magnetospheric MultiScale spacecraft, we report observations of low-frequency whistler waves and associated electromagnetic fields and particle behavior in the Earth's foreshock. The frequency of these whistler waves is close to half the lower-hybrid frequency (similar to 2 Hz), with their wavelength close to the ion gyroradius. The electron bulk flows are strongly modulated by these waves, with a modulation amplitude comparable to the solar wind velocity. At such a spatial scale, the electron flows are forcibly separated from the ion flows by the waves, resulting in strong electric currents and anisotropic ion distributions. Furthermore, we find that the low-frequency whistler wave propagates obliquely to the background magnetic field ( B (0)), and results in spatially periodic magnetic gradients in the direction parallel to B (0). Under such conditions, large pitch-angle electrons are trapped in wave magnetic valleys by the magnetic mirror force, and may provide free perpendicular electron energy to excite higher-frequency whistler waves. This study offers important clues and new insights into wave-particle interactions, wave generation, and microscale energy conversion processes in the solar wind.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Astronomical Society , 2021. Vol. 923, no 2, article id 216
National Category
Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-307055DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac2e97ISI: 000733978300001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85123519877OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-307055DiVA, id: diva2:1625971
Note
QC 20220110
2022-01-102022-01-102022-06-25Bibliographically approved