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Electron acceleration by Alfven waves in the magnetosphereThe self-consistent electron kinetics of Alfven waves on the electron inertial scale is studied using a 2D hybrid-kinetic description. The ions follow a fluid description for Alfven waves at frequencies below the ion cyclotron frequency. The parallel electron dynamics is treated kinetically using particle-in-cell techniques. In this model, the electron plasma mode is eliminated, and only the physics of the Alfven waves is retained. At sufficiently large amplitudes, it is found that oblique Alfven waves break due to finite electron inertia in a cold plasma. The consequence of wave breaking is the formation of an electron beam which can be unstable to the beam-plasma instability. The electrons supporting the parallel current thermalize into a non-Maxwellian distribution with an energetic tail up to several keV, assuming a reasonable magnetospheric Alfven speed. In hot plasma simulations, electron trapping is the principal mechanism of electron acceleration. It is proposed that wave breaking or electron trapping of oblique Alfven waves at 1 R(E) can result in electron acceleration and may explain some observed auroral phenomena.
Document ID
19920050931
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hui, C.-H.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Seyler, C. E.
(Cornell University Ithaca, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 97
Issue: A4 A
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
92A33555
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2011
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-90-24932
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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