Evidence for Nonlinear Langmuir Wave Behavior in the Earth's foreshock: Cluster Observations and Instrumental Concerns

Langmuir wave characteristics in the Earth's foreshock were examined to identify possible nonlinear wave behavior for two case studies. The occurrence rates of four types of power spectra near the foreshock edge were determined: (1) spectra with power at the local plasma frequency fpe only, (2) spectra with power at fpe and 2fpe, (3) spectra with double peaks near fpe, and (4) spectra with double peaks near fpe and peaks at low frequencies indicative of ion acoustic waves. The wave amplitudes from the Cluster WBD Plasma Wave Receiver and PEACE electron distributions were more consistent with three-wave electrostatic decay processes than modulational instabilities. However, only a few spectra had both the double peaks near fpe and ion acoustic waves needed for these three-wave interactions. According to theoretical studies, transverse electromagnetic waves at roughly twice the local plasma frequency 2fpe can be generated if beam-driven Langmuir waves coalesce with backscattered Langmuir waves that result from electrostatic decay processes. However, we found that in the Cluster data set, most harmonics are caused by instrumental effects. This suggests that past studies of harmonic generation based on observations of weak harmonics may be questionable.