Bibliography

Dynamical Coupling of Energetic Electrons and Upper-Hybrid Thermal Fluctuations in the Earth s Radiation Belt

Abstract The inner magnetosphere including the radiation belt environment is replete with quasi-electrostatic fluctuations with peak frequency in the upper-hybrid frequency range. Some examples are demonstrated with the Van Allen Probe spacecraft data. These features have recently been explained in the framework of spontaneously emitted thermal noise theory. Such an environment is also characterized by quasi-isotropic population of energized electrons, which naturally leads one to ask whether these electrons and the upper-hybrid fluctuations influence each other. The present paper explores the potential causal relationship between the two features via kinetic theory. It is shown that indeed, isotropic energetic electrons and upper-hybrid frequency thermal fluctuations can be dynamically coupled and that they could coexist in a quasi-steady state manner.

Yoon, Peter; Hwang, Junga;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 03/2020

YEAR: 2020     DOI: 10.1029/2019JA027748

upper-hybrid fluctuation; energetic electron; Radiation belt; Van Allen Probes; spontaneous emission; thermal noise

Quasi Thermal Noise Spectroscopy for Van Allen Probes

Quasi thermal fluctuations in the Langmuir/upper-hybrid frequency range are pervasively observed in space plasmas including the radiation belt and the ring current region of inner magnetosphere as well as the solar wind. The quasi thermal noise spectroscopy may be employed in order to determine the electron density and temperature as well as to diagnose the properties of energetic electrons when direct measurements are not available. However, when employing the technique, one must carefully take the spacecraft orientation into account. The present paper takes the upper-hybrid and multiple harmonic\textemdashor (n + 1/2)fce\textemdashemissions measured by the Van Allen Probes as an example in order to illustrate how the spacecraft antenna geometrical factor can be incorporated into the theoretical interpretation. This method can in principle be applied to other spacecraft, including the Parker Solar Probe.

Yoon, Peter; Hwang, Junga; Kim, Hyangpyo; Seough, Jungjoon;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 04/2019

YEAR: 2019     DOI: 10.1029/2019JA026460

(n+1/2)fce; antenna geometry; Quasi-thermal; Radiation belt; Upper hybrid; Van Allen Probes

High-frequency thermal fluctuations and instabilities in the radiation belt environment

This paper overviews the electrostatic and electromagnetic theories of spontaneous emission in magnetized plasma as they relate to measured electric and magnetic field fluctuations in quiet time radiation belt and ring current region. The pervasively detected high-frequency fluctuations in the upper-hybrid frequency range as well as the background low-frequency range spectral profile in the whistler mode range are explained within the context of the spontaneous emission theory. The quasilinear calculation of loss-cone instability is also carried out in order to validate the assumption of spontaneous emission model. It is shown that the saturated wave amplitudes associated with the upper-hybrid and multiple-harmonic cyclotron instability are quite low, indicating that the theoretical explanation based upon the assumption of spontaneous emission theory may be adequate for understanding the observed background fluctuations during quiet times.

Hwang, Junga; Yoon, Peter;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 10/2018

YEAR: 2018     DOI: 10.1029/2018JA025643

loss cone instability; Radiation belt; spontaneous emission; upper hybrid wave; Van Allen Probes

Roles of hot electrons in generating upper-hybrid waves in the earth\textquoterights radiation belt

Electrostatic fluctuations near upper-hybrid frequency, which are sometimes accompanied by multiple-harmonic electron cyclotron frequency bands above and below the upper-hybrid frequency, are common occurrences in the Earth\textquoterights radiation belt, as revealed through the twin Van Allen Probe spacecrafts. It is customary to use the upper-hybrid emissions for estimating the background electron density, which in turn can be used to determine the plasmapause locations, but the role of hot electrons in generating such fluctuations has not been discussed in detail. The present paper carries out detailed analyses of data from the Waves instrument, which is part of the Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science suite onboard the Van Allen Probes. Combined with the theoretical calculation, it is shown that the peak intensity associated with the upper-hybrid fluctuations might be predominantly determined by tenuous but hot electrons and that denser cold background electrons do not seem to contribute much to the peak intensity. This finding shows that upper-hybrid fluctuations detected during quiet time are not only useful for the determination of the background cold electron density but also contain information on the ambient hot electrons population as well.

Hwang, J.; Shin, D.; Yoon, P.; Kurth, W.; Larsen, B.; Reeves, G.; Lee, D;

Published by: Physics of Plasmas      Published on: 06/2017

YEAR: 2017     DOI: 10.1063/1.4984249

Hot carriers; Magnetized plasmas; Radiation belts; Singing; Van Allen Probes; Whistler waves