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The contribution of ion-cyclotron waves to electron heating and SAR-arc excitation near the storm-time plasmapauseThe potential role of ion-cyclotron waves in the electron heating process has been studied, using the HOTRAY code. It is demonstrated that ion-cyclotron waves can play an important role in both the energy transfer to plasmaspheric electrons and the subsequent downward heat conduction to SAR arc altitudes. In particular, such waves can experience enhanced path integrated amplification along the steep plasmapause density gradient. The latter tends to keep the wave normal angle small on several successive bounces across the equator, thus allowing cyclotron-resonant amplification leading to a total gain of up to 20 e-foldings. When the wave propagation vector becomes highly oblique, absorption occurs during Landau resonance with thermal plasmaspheric electrons, increasing the electron temperature in the direction parallel to the ambient field and leading directly to heat conduction into ionosphere.
Document ID
19920043548
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Thorne, Richard M.
(California, University Los Angeles, United States)
Horne, Richard B.
(NERC British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, United Kingdom)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
February 21, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 19
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
92A26172
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1639
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-91-01202
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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