Particle-in-cell Simulation of Generating Electron Acoustic Double Layers
Abstract
Observations of a new type of double layers in the Earth's magnetosphere by the Van Allen Probes mission were recently reported [e.g., Mozer et al., 2013]. They are characterized by asymmetric parallel electric field spikes and a travel speed close to electron thermal speed. Theoretical studies suggest that these double layers are produced in a plasma with two electron components of very different temperatures, which supports the electron acoustic waves [Vasko et al., 2017]. Recently, we have successfully produced such double layers in self-consistent electrostatic particle-in-cell simulations, and showed that electron acoustic double layers can be generated near the boundary where hot and cold electrons are streaming into each other, creating density gradients.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMSM33C3590F
- Keywords:
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- 2716 Energetic particles: precipitating;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2720 Energetic particles: trapped;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2772 Plasma waves and instabilities;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2774 Radiation belts;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS