Compressional wave observations between 12 and 18 FcP in the Earth's plasmasheet: observations by MMS
Abstract
MMS observed compressional waves (δB||/δB)2 1 in the plasmasheet at 10 RE in the tail over a 12 minute interval, occurring at frequencies between 4 and 6 Hz ( 12 and 18 proton cyclotron frequency FcP harmonics). We were able to retrieve burst mode data from MMS 2&4. Even though the sampling rate of the Fast Plasma Imager FPI is sufficient for FPI to resolve the waves, preliminary analysis based on the Vlasov equation indicates that the wave amplitude perturbation of phase space density is less than the 1 count level. The wave electric field is highly coherent allowing a good estimate of wave phase, we will attempt a superimposed wave phase analysis in order to extract the wave amplitude perturbations in FPI phase space density. Because of the high proton beta of the plasma 2, the cold plasma whistler mode (fast magnetosonic) cannot explain the observed E&B wave fields. In this presentation we apply warm plasma theory in an attempt to understand these waves and the energy balance between the E&B wave fields and the plasma particles.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMSM23B..01B
- Keywords:
-
- 2704 Auroral phenomena;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2736 Magnetosphere/ionosphere interactions;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2740 Magnetospheric configuration and dynamics;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2794 Instruments and techniques;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS