Observations of large-amplitude, parallel, electrostatic waves associated with the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability by the magnetospheric multiscale missionShow others and affiliations
2016 (English)In: Geophysical Research Letters, ISSN 0094-8276, E-ISSN 1944-8007, Vol. 43, no 17, p. 8859-8866Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
On 8 September 2015, the four Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft encountered a Kelvin-Helmholtz unstable magnetopause near the dusk flank. The spacecraft observed periodic compressed current sheets, between which the plasma was turbulent. We present observations of large-amplitude (up to 100 mV/m) oscillations in the electric field. Because these oscillations are purely parallel to the background magnetic field, electrostatic, and below the ion plasma frequency, they are likely to be ion acoustic-like waves. These waves are observed in a turbulent plasma where multiple particle populations are intermittently mixed, including cold electrons with energies less than 10 eV. Stability analysis suggests a cold electron component is necessary for wave growth.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Blackwell Publishing, 2016. Vol. 43, no 17, p. 8859-8866
Keywords [en]
boundary layer, electrostatic waves, Kelvin-Helmholtz, turbulence, Boundary layers, Electric field effects, Electric fields, Electrostatics, Magnetosphere, Plasma turbulence, Spacecraft, Ion plasma frequency, Kelvin- helmholtz instabilities, Magnetospheric multi scale, Magnetospheric multiscale missions, Multiple particles, Stability analysis, Atmospheric thermodynamics, amplitude, electric field, Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, magnetic field, magnetopause, observational method, plasma
National Category
Physical Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-195326DOI: 10.1002/2016GL070404ISI: 000385357200005Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84984837657OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-195326DiVA, id: diva2:1045484
Note
QC 20161109
2016-11-092016-11-022022-06-27Bibliographically approved