Bibliography
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Found 29 entries in the Bibliography.
Showing entries from 1 through 29
| 2021 |
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Trapping and amplification of unguided mode EMIC waves in the radiation belt AbstractElectromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves can cause the scattering loss of the relativistic electrons in the radiation belt. They can be classified into the guided mode and the unguided mode, according to waves propagation behavior. The guided mode waves have been widely investigated in the radiation belt, but the observation of the unguided mode waves have not been expected. Based on the observations of Van Allen Probes, we demonstrate for the first time the existence of the intense unguided L-mode EMIC waves in the radiation belt according to the polarization characteristics. Growth rate analyses indicate that the hot protons with energies of a few hundred keV may provide the free energy for wave growth. The reflection interface formed by the spatial locations of local helium cutoff frequencies can be nearly parallel to the equatorial plane when the proton abundance ratio decreases sharply with -shell. This structure combined with hot protons may lead to the trapping and significant amplification of the unguided mode waves. These results may help to understand the nature of EMIC waves and their dynamics in the radiation belt. Wang, Geng; Gao, Zhonglei; Wu, MingYu; Wang, GuoQiang; Xiao, SuDong; Chen, YuanQiang; Zou, Zhengyang; Zhang, TieLong; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 08/2021 YEAR: 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029322 EMIC waves; unguided mode; Radiation belt; ion abundance ratios; Wave trapping; growth rate; Van Allen Probes |
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ULF-modulation of whistler-mode waves in the inner magnetosphere during solar wind compression Abstract The solar wind plays important roles on terrestrial magnetosphere dynamics, including the particle population and plasma waves generation. Here we report an interesting event that ULF waves are enhanced right after solar wind compression and the compressional mode ULF wave subsequently modulates both the intensity and energy flux direction of whistler-mode waves. Quasi-periodic whistler-mode wave packets are observed around L=5.6 at noon sector by Van Allen Probes. Growth rate calculation demonstrates that the compressional mode ULF wave can modulate the whistler-mode wave intensity by modulating the energetic electron anisotropy. Moreover, the direction of wave energy flux is observed to alternate between northward and southward at equator, which is probably because the intense ULF waves periodically alter the relative direction of the wave source region respect to the spacecraft. The current results provide a chain of observational evidences to illustrate how the generation and propagation of whistler-mode waves in the inner magnetosphere are affected by ULF waves during the solar wind dynamic pressure enhancement. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Shang, Xiongjun; Liu, Si; Chen, Lunjin; Gao, Zhonglei; Wang, Geng; He, Qian; Li, Tong; Xiao, Fuliang; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 07/2021 YEAR: 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029353 |
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Observation of unusual chorus elements by Van Allen Probes AbstractWhistler mode chorus waves play an important role in the radiation belt dynamics, which usually appear as discrete elements with frequency sweeping. Finer structure analysis shows that a chorus element is composed of several frequency-sweeping subelements, and such two-level structures can be successfully reproduced by modeling based on nonlinear theories. Previous observations and models suggest that an element and its subelements should have the same frequency-sweep direction. However, we here present two unexpected chorus rising tone events within which the subelements exhibit clearly reversed, falling frequency-sweep. Moreover, the subelements consist of several wave packets that also show falling frequency-sweep features. The three-level structured chorus elements are distinctly different from all the reported observations and seem to bring challenges to the existing theories. We propose a possible scenario that the falling tone subelements are formed by nonlinear process with much shorter timescale and the starting frequency of each subelement is controlled by fast varying electron distribution. This study may inspire more studies toward a thorough understanding of the chorus generation process. Liu, Si; Gao, Zhonglei; Xiao, Fuliang; He, Qian; Li, Tong; Shang, Xiongjun; Zhou, Qinghua; Yang, Chang; Zhang, Sai; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 06/2021 YEAR: 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029258 |
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Abstract With Van Allen Probes data, we present the observational support for whistler waves guided by the plasmapause based on a case study and statistical analyses. Due to the combined effects of inhomogeneous magnetic fields and plasma densities, whistler waves near the inner edge of plasmapause (plasmasphere side) will be guided by a HDD-like (HDD, high density duct) density gradient, and tend to have very small wave normal angles (WNAs ≤20°). In contrast, whistler waves around the outer edge of the plasmapause (plasmatrough side) guided by a LDD-like (LDD, low density duct) density gradient, tend to have quite large WNAs (≥∼60°). Moreover, the statistical analysis reveals the remarkably different properties of whistler waves around inner and outer edges of plasmapause. We suggest that the plasmapause density gradients may play a significant role in the distribution of whistler waves. Chen, Rui; Gao, Xinliang; Lu, Quanming; Tsurutani, Bruce; Wang, Shui; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 03/2021 YEAR: 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL092652 Plasmapause; whistler wave; ducting effect; inner edge; outer edge; wave normal angle; Van Allen Probes |
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Whistler-mode waves trapped by density irregularities in the Earth s magnetosphere Abstract Whistler-mode waves are electromagnetic waves pervasively observed in the Earth s and other planetary magnetospheres. They are considered to be mainly responsible for producing the hazardous radiation and diffuse aurora, which heavily relies on their properties. Density irregularities, frequently observed in the Earth s magnetospheres, are found to change largely the properties of whistler-mode waves. Here we report, using Van Allen Probes measurements, whistler-mode waves strongly modulated by two different density enhancements. With particle-in-cell simulations, we propose wave trapping caused by field-aligned density irregularities (ducts) may account for this phenomenon. Simulation results show that whistler-mode waves can be trapped inside the enhanced density ducts. These trapped waves remain quasi-parallel and usually get much larger amplitudes than those unducted whistler waves during propagation away from the magnetic equator, and tend to focus at a spatially narrow channel, consistent with observations. Our results imply density irregularities may be significant to modulate radiation-belt electrons. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Ke, Yangguang; Chen, Lunjin; Gao, Xinliang; Lu, Quanming; Wang, Xueyi; Chen, Rui; Chen, Huayue; Wang, Shui; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 03/2021 YEAR: 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092305 WHISTLER-MODE WAVES; density irregularities; Magnetosphere; Radiation belts; particle-in-cell simulation; Wave trapping; Van Allen Probes |
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In situ Observations of Whistler-mode Chorus Waves Guided by Density Ducts Abstract In this paper, we report the proof of the existence of density ducts in the Earth’s magnetosphere by studying in situ observations of whistler-mode chorus waves using NASA’s Van Allen Probe-A data. Chorus waves, originally excited inside the density ducts with wave normal angles (WNAs) smaller than the Gendrin angle at near equator region, are efficiently confined to a limited area inside density ducts (i.e., ducted regions), and remain with small WNAs as they propagate towards high latitudes. The ducted region becomes narrower for the higher-frequency waves. Chorus waves with WNAs larger than the Gendrin angle are not guided by density ducts. Our study reveals that density ducts can effectively control the property and distribution of chorus waves, and may ultimately regulate electron dynamics in the Earth’s or other planetary radiation belts. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Chen, Rui; Gao, Xinliang; Lu, Quanming; Chen, Lunjin; Tsurutani, Bruce; Li, Wen; Ni, Binbin; Wang, Shui; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 03/2021 YEAR: 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA028814 Radiation belt; Chorus wave; density duct; ducted region; Van Allen Probes |
| 2020 |
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Substorm injection and solar wind dynamic pressure have long been considered as two main drivers of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave excitation, but clear observational evidence is still lacking. With Van Allen Probes data from 2012–2017, we have investigated the roles of the two EMIC wave drivers separately, by using time-modified AE+ and . Both the occurrence rate and magnetic amplitude of waves significantly increase with the enhancement of each index. During large AE+, EMIC waves are mainly generated in the dusk sector (16 ≤ MLT ≤ 20) and near the magnetic equator (|MLAT| < 10°). This is presumably due to substorm-injected protons drifting from midnight sector to the plasmaspheric bulge. While during large , EMIC waves mainly occur in the noon sector (9 ≤ MLT ≤ 15). But there exist higher-latitude (10° < |MLAT| < 20°) source regions besides equatorial source, possibly due to the minimum B regions. Our results provide strong observational support to existing generation mechanisms of EMIC waves in the Earth s magnetosphere. Chen, Huayue; Gao, Xinliang; Lu, Quanming; Tsurutani, Bruce; Wang, Shui; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 10/2020 YEAR: 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL090275 EMIC wave; wave excitation; source region; substorm injection; solar wind dynamic pressure; Earth s magnetosphere; Van Allen Probes |
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Lower-Band “Monochromatic” Chorus Riser Subelement/Wave Packet Observations Three lower-band (f < 0.5 fce) chorus riser elements detected in the dayside generation region were studied in detail using the Van Allen Probe data. Two subelements/wave packets within each riser were examined for their wave “frequency” constancy within seven consecutive wave cycles. The seven wave cycles contained the maximum amplitudes of the subelements/packets. Maximum variance B1 zero crossings were used for the identification of wave cycle start and stop times. It is found that the frequency is constant to within ~3\% (one standard deviation), with no evidence of upward frequency sweeping over the seven cycles. Continuous wavelet power spectra for the duration of the seven cycles confirm this conclusion. The implication is that a chorus riser element is composed of coherent approximately “monochromatic” steps instead of a gradual sweep in frequency over the whole element. There was no upward frequency stepping where the wave amplitude was the largest, contrary to the sideband theory prediction. It is shown that a chorus riser involves instability of cyclotron resonant energetic electrons from ~6 to ~40 keV at L = 5.8, that is, essentially the whole substorm electron energy spectrum. The above findings may have important consequences for possible wave generation mechanisms. Some new ideas for mechanisms are suggested in conclusion. Tsurutani, Bruce; Chen, Rui; Gao, Xinliang; Lu, Quanming; Pickett, Jolene; Lakhina, Gurbax; Sen, Abhijit; Hajra, Rajkumar; Park, Sang; Falkowski, Barbara; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 09/2020 YEAR: 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA028090 chorus coherency; chorus subelement monochromaticity; a modified theory needed; Van Allen Probes |
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Evidence of Nonlinear Interactions Between Magnetospheric Electron Cyclotron Harmonic Waves Electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves play an important role in the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. They are usually considered to be generated by the Bernstein-mode instability with electron loss cone distributions. By analyzing the Van Allen Probes wave data, we present the direct evidence of the nonlinear interactions between ECH waves in the magnetosphere. Substorm-injected electrons excite primary ECH waves in a series of structureless bands between multiples of the electron gyrofrequency. Nonlinear interactions between the primary ECH waves produce secondary waves at sum- and difference-frequencies of the primary waves. Our results suggest that the nonlinear wave-wave interactions can redistribute the primary ECH wave energy over a broader frequency range and hence potentially affect the magnetospheric electrons over a broader range of pitch angles and energies. Gao, Zhonglei; Zuo, Pingbing; Feng, Xueshang; Wang, Yi; Jiang, Chaowei; Wei, Fengsi; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 08/2020 YEAR: 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088452 ECH; wave-wave interaction; nonlinear interaction; frequency spectrum broadening; electron Bernstein mode; generalized Bernstein mode; Van Allen Probes |
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Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves play an important role in the energy transfer among particles of different energies and species in the magnetosphere, whose drivers have been commonly recognized as solar wind compressions and storm/substorm proton injections. However, how the solar wind decompressions related to frequently occurring discontinuities compete with the proton injections in the evolution of EMIC waves has been rarely investigated. Here we present a complete end-to-end observation by Wind, THEMIS, and Van Allen Probes missions during the main phase of the 23 February 2014 storm of a succession of solar wind rotational discontinuities decompressing the magnetosphere within 200 s, adiabatically decelerating the freshly injected >10 keV protons, and thus suppressing the EMIC waves in the inner magnetosphere. Our results highlight the importance of solar wind conditions for the evolution of inner magnetospheric EMIC waves from a new perspective. Liu, Nigang; Su, Zhenpeng; Gao, Zhonglei; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Wang, Shui; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 08/2020 YEAR: 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL090296 EMIC waves; solar wind discontinuity; storm/substorm injection; wave generation; adiabatic deceleration; inner magnetosphere; Van Allen Probes |
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Plasmaspheric hiss is an important whistler-mode emission shaping the Van Allen radiation belt environment. How the plasmaspheric hiss waves are generated, propagate, and dissipate remains under intense debate. With the five spacecraft of Van Allen Probes, Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (Arase), and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites missions at widely spaced locations, we present here the first comprehensive observations of hiss waves growing from the substorm-injected electron instability, spreading within the plasmasphere, and dissipating over a large spatial scale. During substorms, hot electrons were injected energy-dispersively into the plasmasphere near the dawnside and, probably through a combination of linear and nonlinear cyclotron resonances, generated whistler-mode waves with globally drifting frequencies. These waves were able to propagate from the dawnside to the noonside, with the frequency-drifting feature retained. Approximately 5 hr of magnetic local time away from the source region in the dayside sector, the wave power was dissipated to urn:x-wiley:grl:media:grl60110:grl60110-math-0001 of its original level. Liu, Nigang; Su, Zhenpeng; Gao, Zhonglei; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Wang, Shui; Miyoshi, Yoshizumi; Shinohara, Iku; Kasahara, Yoshiya; Tsuchiya, Fuminori; Kumamoto, Atsushi; Matsuda, Shoya; Shoji, Masafumi; Mitani, Takefumi; Takashima, Takeshi; Kazama, Yoichi; Wang, Bo-Jhou; Wang, Shiang-Yu; Jun, Chae-Woo; Chang, Tzu-Fang; W. Y. Tam, Sunny; Kasahara, Satoshi; Yokota, Shoichiro; Keika, Kunihiro; Hori, Tomoaki; Matsuoka, Ayako; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 01/2020 YEAR: 2020 DOI: 10.1029/2019GL086040 plasmasphere; Plasmaspheric Hiss; Radiation belt; Van Allen Probes; Wave Dissipation; wave generation; wave propagation |
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Abstract Plasmaspheric hiss is an important whistler-mode emission shaping the Van Allen radiation belt environment. How the plasmaspheric hiss waves are generated, propagate, and dissipate remains under intense debate. With the five spacecraft of Van Allen Probes, Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (Arase), and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites missions at widely spaced locations, we present here the first comprehensive observations of hiss waves growing from the substorm-injected electron instability, spreading within the plasmasphere, and dissipating over a large spatial scale. During substorms, hot electrons were injected energy-dispersively into the plasmasphere near the dawnside and, probably through a combination of linear and nonlinear cyclotron resonances, generated whistler-mode waves with globally drifting frequencies. These waves were able to propagate from the dawnside to the noonside, with the frequency-drifting feature retained. Approximately 5 hr of magnetic local time away from the source region in the dayside sector, the wave power was dissipated to of its original level. Liu, Nigang; Su, Zhenpeng; Gao, Zhonglei; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Wang, Shui; Miyoshi, Yoshizumi; Shinohara, Iku; Kasahara, Yoshiya; Tsuchiya, Fuminori; Kumamoto, Atsushi; Matsuda, Shoya; Shoji, Masafumi; Mitani, Takefumi; Takashima, Takeshi; Kazama, Yoichi; Wang, Bo-Jhou; Wang, Shiang-Yu; Jun, Chae-Woo; Chang, Tzu-Fang; W. Y. Tam, Sunny; Kasahara, Satoshi; Yokota, Shoichiro; Keika, Kunihiro; Hori, Tomoaki; Matsuoka, Ayako; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: YEAR: 2020 DOI: 10.1029/2019GL086040 Plasmaspheric Hiss; Radiation belt; plasmasphere; wave generation; wave propagation; Wave Dissipation |
| 2019 |
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Propagation of EMIC Waves Inside the Plasmasphere: A Two-Event Study Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are important for the loss of high-energy electrons in the radiation belt. Based on the measurements of Van Allen Probes, two events during the same storm period are presented to study the propagation of EMIC waves. In the first event, left-handed polarized EMIC waves were observed near the plasmapause, while right-handed waves were observed in the inner plasmasphere. The Poynting flux of the right-hand waves was mainly directed inward and equatorward, and no positive growth rates were obtained in the region of these right-hand waves, indicating the inward propagation of the waves from a higher L-shell. In the second event, the wave vectors were quasi-perpendicular to the background magnetic field inside the plasmaspheric plume but became quasi-parallel outside. This phenomenon can be explained by the refraction of the large density gradient, which qualitatively satisfies Snell\textquoterights law. These observations provide indirect evidence of the inward propagation of the EMIC waves and give a new insight on how density gradients may modify wave properties Wang, G.; Zhang, T.; Gao, Z.; Wu, M; Wang, G.; Schmid, D.; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 10/2019 YEAR: 2019 DOI: 10.1029/2019JA027055 density gradient; EMIC wave; inward propagation; refraction; right hand polarization; Snell\textquoterights law; Van Allen Probes |
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Analyzing EMIC Waves in the Inner Magnetosphere Using Long-Term Van Allen Probes Observations With 64-month magnetic data from Van Allen Probes, we have studied not only the global distribution, wave normal angle (θ), and ellipticity (ε) of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves, but also the dependence of their occurrence rates and magnetic amplitudes on the AE* index (the mean value of AE index over previous 1 hr). Our results show that H+ band waves are preferentially detected at 5 <= L <= 6.5, in the noon sector. They typically have small θ (<30\textdegree) and weakly left-hand polarization but become more oblique and linearly polarized at larger magnetic latitudes or L-shells. With the increase of AE* index, their occurrence rate significantly increases in the noon sector, and their source region extends to dusk sector. He+ band waves usually occur in the predawn and morning sectors at 3 <= L <= 4.5. They generally have moderate θ (30 \textdegree - 40\textdegree) and left-hand polarization and also become more oblique and linearly polarized at larger latitudes or L-shells. There is a clear enhancement of occurrence rate and amplitude during active geomagnetic periods, especially in the dusk and evening sectors. O+ band waves mainly occur at 3 <= L <= 4 in the predawn sector. They have either very small θ (<20\textdegree) or very large θ (>50\textdegree), and typically linear or weakly right-hand polarization. During active periods, they mostly occur at the midnight sector and L < 3.5. As a valuable supplement to previous statistical studies, our result provides not only a more compresentive EMIC wave model for evaluating their effects on the radiation belt, but also detailed observational constraints on generation mechanisms of EMIC waves. Chen, Huayue; Gao, Xinliang; Lu, Quanming; Wang, Shui; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 08/2019 YEAR: 2019 DOI: 10.1029/2019JA026965 A long-term statistical work; EMIC wave; inner magnetosphere; spatial distribution; Van Allen Probes; Van Allen Probes observation; Wave fundamental characters |
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Auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) can potentially produce serious damage to space-borne systems by accelerating trapped radiation belt electrons to relativistic energies. Here we examine the global occurrences of AKR emissions in radiation belts based on Van Allen Probes observations from 1 October 2012 to 31 December 2016. The statistical results (1,848 events in total) show that AKR covers a broad region of L= 3\textendash6.5 and 00\textendash24 magnetic local time (MLT), with a higher occurrence on the nightside (20\textendash24 MLT and 00\textendash04 MLT) within L= 5\textendash6.5. All the AKR events are observed to be accompanied with suprathermal (\~1 keV) electron flux enhancements. During active geomagnetic periods, both AKR occurrences and electron injections tend to be more distinct, and AKR emission extends to the dayside. The current study shows that AKR emissions from the remote sources are closely associated with electron injections. Zhao, Wanli; Liu, Si; Zhang, Sai; Zhou, Qinghua; Yang, Chang; He, Yihua; Gao, Zhonglei; Xiao, Fuliang; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 07/2019 YEAR: 2019 DOI: 10.1029/2019GL083944 Auroral kilometric radiation; global occurrence; Radiation belt; suprathermal electron flux enhancenments; Van Allen Probes |
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Electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves can yield diffuse aurora primarily at higher L-shells by driving efficient precipitation loss of plasma sheet electrons. Here using the Van Allen Probes high resolution data, we examine in detail the global occurrences of ECH waves during the period from October 1, 2012 to June 30, 2017 and find that there are totally 419 events of enhanced ECH waves. The statistical results demonstrate that ECH waves can be present over a broad region of L=4-6 and 00-24 MLT, with a higher occurrence in the region of L=5-6 and 06-19 MLT. The electron phase space density exhibits a distinct ring distribution (∂f/∂v⊥ >0) with the peak energy around a few keV. Both ECH wave events and the electron ring distributions are closely related and tend to be more distinct with increasing geomagnetic activity. Chen, Yaru; Zhou, Qinghua; He, Yihua; Yang, Chang; Liu, Si; Gao, Zhonglei; Xiao, Fuliang; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 04/2019 YEAR: 2019 DOI: 10.1029/2019GL082668 electron ring distribution; global occurrences; Radiation belt; Van Allen Probe observation; Van Allen Probes; waves |
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Local Generation of High-Frequency Plasmaspheric Hiss Observed by Van Allen Probes The generation of a high-frequency plasmaspheric hiss (HFPH) wave observed by Van Allen Probes is studied in this letter for the first time. The wave has a moderate power spectral density (\~10-6 nT2/Hz), with a frequency range extended from 2 to 10 kHz. The correlated observations of waves and particles indicate that HFPH is associated with the enhancement of electron flux during the substorm on 6 January 2014. Calculations of the wave linear growth rate driven by the fitted electron phase space density show that the electron distribution after the substorm onset is efficient for the HFPH generation. The energy of the contributing electrons is about 1\textendash2 keV, which is consistent with the observation. These results support that the observed HFPH is likely to be generated locally inside the plasmasphere due to the instability of injected kiloelectron volt electrons. He, Zhaoguo; Chen, Lunjin; Liu, Xu; Zhu, Hui; Liu, Si; Gao, Zhonglei; Cao, Yong; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 01/2019 YEAR: 2019 DOI: 10.1029/2018GL081578 electron; high frequency; local generation; Plasmaspheric Hiss; substorm injection; Van Allen Probes |
| 2018 |
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Electromagnetic whistler-mode chorus and electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves can contribute significantly to auroral electron precipitation and radiation belt electron acceleration. In the past, linear and nonlinear wave-particle interactions have been proposed to explain the occurrences of these magnetospheric waves. By analyzing Van Allen Probes data, we present here the first evidence for nonlinear coupling between chorus and ECH waves. The sum-frequency and difference-frequency interactions produced the ECH sidebands with discrete frequency sweeping structures exactly corresponding to the chorus rising tones. The newly-generated weak sidebands did not satisfy the original electrostatic wave dispersion relation. After the generation of chorus and normal ECH waves by hot electron instabilities, the nonlinear wave-wave interactions could additionally redistribute energy among the resonant waves, potentially affecting to some extent the magnetospheric electron dynamics. Gao, Zhonglei; Su, Zhenpeng; Xiao, Fuliang; Summers, Danny; Liu, Nigang; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Wei, Fengsi; Wang, Shui; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 11/2018 YEAR: 2018 DOI: 10.1029/2018GL080635 aurora; Chorus wave; electron cyclotron harmonic wave; nonlinear wave-wave interaction; Radiation belt; Van Allen Probes |
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Previous studies have revealed a typical picture that seed electrons are transported inward under the drive of radial diffusion and then accelerated via chorus to relativistic energies. Here we show a potentially different process during the 2\textendash3 October 2013 storm when Van Allen Probes observed extremely rapid (by about 50 times in 2 h) flux enhancements of relativistic (1.8\textendash3.4 MeV) electrons but without distinct chorus at lower L-shells. Meanwhile, Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms satellites simultaneously measured enhanced chorus and fluxes of energetic (\~100\textendash300 keV) seed electrons at higher L-shells. Numerical calculations show that chorus can efficiently accelerate seed electrons at L \~ 8.3. Then radial diffusion further increased the phase space density of relativistic electrons throughout the outer radiation belts, with a remarkable agreement with the observation in magnitude and timescale. The current results provide a different physical scenario on the interplay between radial diffusion and local acceleration in outer radiation belt. Liu, Si; Yan, Qi; Yang, Chang; Zhou, Qinghua; He, Zhaoguo; He, Yihua; Gao, Zhonglei; Xiao, Fuliang; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 02/2018 YEAR: 2018 DOI: 10.1002/grl.v45.310.1002/2017GL076513 chorus-driven acceleration; radial diffusion; Radiation belt; THEMIS; Van Allen Probes |
| 2017 |
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Plasmaspheric hiss is an extremely low frequency whistler-mode emission contributing significantly to the loss of radiation belt electrons. There are two main competing mechanisms for the generation of plasmaspheric hiss: excitation by local instability in the outer plasmasphere and origination from chorus outside the plasmasphere. Here, on the basis of the analysis of an event of shock-induced disappearance and subsequent recovery of plasmaspheric hiss observed by RBSP, THEMIS and POES missions, we attempt to identify its dominant generation mechanism. In the pre-shock plasmasphere, the local electron instability was relatively weak and the hiss waves with bidirectional Poynting fluxes mainly originated from the dayside chorus waves. On arrival of the shock, the removal of pre-existing dayside chorus and the insignificant variation of low-frequency wave instability caused the prompt disappearance of hiss waves. In the next few hours, the local instability in the plasmasphere was greatly enhanced due to the substorm injection of hot electrons. The enhancement of local instability likely played a dominant role in the temporary recovery of hiss with unidirectional Poynting fluxes. These temporarily recovered hiss waves were generated near the equator and then propagated toward higher latitudes. In contrast, both the enhancement of local instability and the recurrence of pre-noon chorus contributed to the substantial recovery of hiss with bidirectional Poynting fluxes. Liu, Nigang; Su, Zhenpeng; Gao, Zhonglei; Reeves, G.; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Wang, Shui; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 10/2017 YEAR: 2017 DOI: 10.1002/2017JA024470 Chorus; interplanetary shock; Plasmaspheric Hiss; Radiation belt; substorm injection; Van Allen Probes; Wave-particle interaction |
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Rapid loss of radiation belt relativistic electrons by EMIC waves How relativistic electrons are lost is an important question surrounding the complex dynamics of the Earth\textquoterights outer radiation belt. Radial loss to the magnetopause and local loss to the atmosphere are two main competing paradigms. Here, on the basis of the analysis of a radiation belt storm event on 27 February 2014, we present new evidence for the EMIC wave-driven local precipitation loss of relativistic electrons in the heart of the outer radiation belt. During the main phase of this storm, the radial profile of relativistic electron phase space density was quasi-monotonic, qualitatively inconsistent with the prediction of radial loss theory. The local loss at low L-shells was required to prevent the development of phase space density peak resulting from the radial loss process at high L-shells. The rapid loss of relativistic electrons in the heart of outer radiation belt was observed as a dip structure of the electron flux temporal profile closely related to intense EMIC waves. Our simulations further confirm that the observed EMIC waves within a quite limited longitudinal region was able to reduce the off-equatorially mirroring relativistic electron fluxes by up to 2 orders of magnitude within about 1.5 h. Su, Zhenpeng; Gao, Zhonglei; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Wang, Shui; Spence, H.; Reeves, G.; Baker, D.; Wygant, J.; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 08/2017 YEAR: 2017 DOI: 10.1002/2017JA024169 electron loss; EMIC waves; pitch angle scattering; radial diffusion; Radiation belts; Van Allen Probes; Wave-particle interaction |
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Van Allen Probes observations of whistler-mode chorus with long-lived oscillating tones Whistler-mode chorus plays an important role in the radiation belt electron dynamics. In the frequency-time spectrogram, chorus often appears as a hiss-like band and/or a series of short-lived (up to \~1 s) discrete elements. Here we present some rarely reported chorus emissions with long-lived (up to 25 s) oscillating tones observed by the Van Allen Probes in the dayside (MLT \~9\textendash14) midlatitude (|MLAT|>15\textdegree) region. An oscillating tone can behave either regularly or irregularly and can even transform into a nearly constant tone (with a relatively narrow frequency sweep range). We suggest that these highly coherent oscillating tones were generated naturally rather than being related to some artificial VLF transmitters. Possible scenarios for the generation of the oscillating tone chorus are as follows: (1) being nonlinearly triggered by the accompanying hiss-like bands or (2) being caused by the modulation of the wave source. The details of the generation and evolution of such a long-lived oscillating tone chorus need to be investigated both theoretically and experimentally in the future. Gao, Zhonglei; Su, Zhenpeng; Chen, Lunjin; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Wang, Shui; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 06/2017 YEAR: 2017 DOI: 10.1002/2017GL073420 Chorus; falling tone; nonlinear generation; oscillating tone; rising tone; Van Allen Probes |
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Generation of extremely low frequency chorus in Van Allen radiation belts Recent studies have shown that chorus can efficiently accelerate the outer radiation belt electrons to relativistic energies. Chorus, previously often observed above 0.1 equatorial electron gyrofrequency fce, was generated by energetic electrons originating from Earth\textquoterights plasma sheet. Chorus below 0.1 fce has seldom been reported until the recent data from Van Allen Probes, but its origin has not been revealed so far. Because electron resonant energy can approach the relativistic level at extremely low frequency, relativistic effects should be considered in the formula for whistler mode wave growth rate. Here we report high-resolution observations during the 14 October 2014 small storm and firstly demonstrate, using a fully relativistic simulation, that electrons with the high-energy tail population and relativistic pitch angle anisotropy can provide free energy sufficient for generating chorus below 0.1 fce. The simulated wave growth displays a very similar pattern to the observations. The current results can be applied to Jupiter, Saturn, and other magnetized planets. Xiao, Fuliang; Liu, Si; Tao, Xin; Su, Zhenpeng; Zhou, Qinghua; Yang, Chang; He, Zhaoguo; He, Yihua; Gao, Zhonglei; Baker, D.; Spence, H.; Reeves, G.; Funsten, H.; Blake, J.; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 03/2017 YEAR: 2017 DOI: 10.1002/2016JA023561 ELF chorus waves; RBSP results; relativistic distribution; Van Allen Probes; Wave-particle interaction |
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Magnetospheric whistler mode waves are of great importance in the radiation belt electron dynamics. Here on the basis of the analysis of a rare event with the simultaneous disappearances of whistler mode plasmaspheric hiss, exohiss, and chorus triggered by a sudden decrease in the solar wind dynamic pressure, we provide evidences for the following physical scenarios: (1) nonlinear generation of chorus controlled by the geomagnetic field inhomogeneity, (2) origination of plasmaspheric hiss from chorus, and (3) leakage of plasmaspheric hiss into exohiss. Following the reduction of the solar wind dynamic pressure, the dayside geomagnetic field configuration with the enhanced inhomogeneity became unfavorable for the generation of chorus, and the quenching of chorus directly caused the disappearances of plasmaspheric hiss and then exohiss. Liu, Nigang; Su, Zhenpeng; Gao, Zhonglei; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Wang, Shui; Spence, H.; Reeves, G.; Baker, D.; Blake, J.; Funsten, H.; Wygant, J.; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 01/2017 YEAR: 2017 DOI: 10.1002/2016GL071987 Chorus; Exohiss; Plasmaspheric Hiss; Van Allen Probes; wave disappearance; wave generation |
| 2016 |
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Explaining occurrences of auroral kilometric radiation in Van Allen radiation belts Auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) is a strong terrestrial radio emission and dominates at higher latitudes because of reflection in vicinities of the source cavity and plasmapause. Recently, Van Allen Probes have observed occurrences of AKR emission in the equatorial region of Earth\textquoterights radiation belts but its origin still remains an open question. Equatorial AKR can produce efficient acceleration of radiation belt electrons and is a risk to space weather. Here we report high-resolution observations during two small storm periods 4\textendash6 April and 18\textendash20 May 2013 and show, using a 3-D ray tracing simulation, that AKR can propagate downward all the way into the equatorial plane in the radiation belts under appropriate conditions. The simulated results can successfully explain the observed AKR\textquoterights spatial distribution and frequency range, and the current results have a wide application to all other magnetized astrophysical objects in the universe. Xiao, Fuliang; Zhou, Qinghua; Su, Zhenpeng; He, Zhaoguo; Yang, Chang; Liu, Si; He, Yihua; Gao, Zhonglei; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 12/2016 YEAR: 2016 DOI: 10.1002/2016GL071728 AKR emissions; Geomagnetic storms; Radiation belts; ray tracing simulations; satellite data; Van Allen Probes |
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Nonstorm time dropout of radiation belt electron fluxes on 24 September 2013 Radiation belt electron flux dropouts during the main phase of geomagnetic storms have received increasing attention in recent years. Here we focus on a rarely reported nonstorm time dropout event observed by Van Allen Probes on 24 September 2013. Within several hours, the radiation belt electron fluxes exhibited a significant (up to 2 orders of magnitude) depletion over a wide range of radial distances (L > 4.5), energies (\~500 keV to several MeV) and equatorial pitch angles (0\textdegree<=αe<=180\textdegree). STEERB simulations show that the relativistic electron loss in the region L = 4.5\textendash6.0 was primarily caused by the pitch angle scattering of observed plasmaspheric hiss and electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves. Our results emphasize the complexity of radiation belt dynamics and the importance of wave-driven precipitation loss even during nonstorm times. Su, Zhenpeng; Gao, Zhonglei; Zhu, Hui; Li, Wen; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Wang, Shui; Spence, H.; Reeves, G.; Baker, D.; Blake, J.; Funsten, H.; Wygant, J.; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 07/2016 YEAR: 2016 DOI: 10.1002/2016JA022546 EMIC; numerical modeling; Plasmaspheric Hiss; precipitation loss; radiation belt dropout; Van Allen Probes; Wave-particle interaction |
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Frequency distribution is a vital factor in determining the contribution of whistler-mode chorus to radiation belt electron dynamics. Chorus is usually considered to occur in the frequency range 0.1\textendash0.8 inline image (with the equatorial electron gyrofrequency inline image). We here report an event of intense low-frequency chorus with nearly half of wave power distributed below 0.1 inline image observed by Van Allen Probe A on 27 August 2014. This emission propagated quasi-parallel to the magnetic field and exhibited hiss-like signatures most of the time. The low-frequency chorus can produce the rapid loss of low-energy (\~0.1 MeV) electrons, different from the normal chorus. For high-energy (>=0.5 MeV) electrons, the low-frequency chorus can yield comparable momentum diffusion to that of the normal chorus, but much stronger (up to 2 orders of magnitude) pitch-angle diffusion near the loss cone. Gao, Zhonglei; Su, Zhenpeng; Zhu, Hui; Xiao, Fuliang; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Shen, Chao; Wang, Shui; Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 02/2016 YEAR: 2016 DOI: 10.1002/2016GL067687 Cyclotron resonance; Hiss-like band; Low-frequency chorus; Radiation belt; Van Allen Probes; Rising tones; Van Allen Probes |
| 2015 |
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Ultra-low-frequency wave-driven diffusion of radiation belt relativistic electrons Van Allen radiation belts are typically two zones of energetic particles encircling the Earth separated by the slot region. How the outer radiation belt electrons are accelerated to relativistic energies remains an unanswered question. Recent studies have presented compelling evidence for the local acceleration by very-low-frequency (VLF) chorus waves. However, there has been a competing theory to the local acceleration, radial diffusion by ultra-low-frequency (ULF) waves, whose importance has not yet been determined definitively. Here we report a unique radiation belt event with intense ULF waves but no detectable VLF chorus waves. Our results demonstrate that the ULF waves moved the inner edge of the outer radiation belt earthward 0.3 Earth radii and enhanced the relativistic electron fluxes by up to one order of magnitude near the slot region within about 10 h, providing strong evidence for the radial diffusion of radiation belt relativistic electrons. Su, Zhenpeng; Zhu, Hui; Xiao, Fuliang; Zong, Q.-G.; Zhou, X.-Z.; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Yuming; Wang, Shui; Hao, Y.-X.; Gao, Zhonglei; He, Zhaoguo; Baker, D.; Spence, H.; Reeves, G.; Blake, J.; Wygant, J.; Published by: Nature Communications Published on: 12/2015 YEAR: 2015 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10096 |
| 2014 |
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The bandwidths and coherence coefficients of lower band whistler mode waves are analyzed using Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) waveform data for rising tones, falling tones, and hiss-like emissions separately. We also evaluate their dependences on the spatial location, electron density, the ratio of plasma frequency to local electron gyrofrequency (fpe/fce), and the wave amplitude. Our results show that the bandwidth normalized by the local electron gyrofrequency (fce) of rising and falling tones is very narrow (~0.01 fce), smaller than that of the hiss-like emissions (~0.025 fce). Meanwhile, the normalized bandwidth of discrete emissions gradually decreases with increasing wave amplitude, whereas that of hiss-like emissions increases slowly. The coherence coefficient of rising and falling tones is extremely large (~1), while the coherence coefficient of hiss-like emissions is smaller but is still larger than 0.5. For all categories of whistler mode waves, the normalized bandwidth increases at larger L shells. Furthermore, the normalized bandwidth is positively correlated with local fpe/fce but is inversely correlated with the electron density. Interactions between radiation belt electrons and whistler mode waves have been widely described by quasi-linear diffusion theory. Our results suggest that although quasi-linear theory is not entirely applicable for modeling electron interactions with rising and falling tones due to their narrow bandwidth and high coherence coefficient, it is suitable to treat wave-particle interactions between electrons and low-amplitude hiss-like emissions. Moreover, the correlations between the normalized bandwidth of chorus waves (especially the discrete emissions) and other parameters may provide insights for the generation mechanism of chorus waves. Gao, X.; Li, W.; Thorne, R.; Bortnik, J.; Angelopoulos, V.; Lu, Q.; Tao, X.; Wang, S.; Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Published on: 11/2014 YEAR: 2014 DOI: 10.1002/2014JA020158 bandwidth; coherence coefficient; nonlinear; quasi-linear; THEMIS; whistler mode waves |
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