A mechanism for ion heating above the aurora in dispersive Alfven waves
Abstract
In this presentation we show how Alfven waves growing via a feedback interaction with the ionosphere may efficiently heat ions. Through the use of simulations it is shown how an Alfven wave incident on the ionosphere from the magnetosphere can grow to provide a spectrum of electric field oscillations on multiple scales. These scales may be sufficiently small to disrupt the adiabatic motion of the ambient ions yielding a net energy gain and thereby ion-outflow via the mirror force. Observations from the FAST satellite show that some of the largest ion outflow events observed occur simultaneously with wave observations containing scales at or below the gyro-radii of the ions.
- Publication:
-
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly
- Pub Date:
- April 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003EAEJA.....4895C