A discussion on the mode conversion from purely perpendicular upper-hybrid mode waves to LO mode waves in an inhomogeneous plasma

Abstract

We consider the equatorial region of the magnetosphere, where the magnetic field is perpendicular (or near to perpendicular) to the density gradient and mode conversion process from UH to LO-mode waves or reverse process are expected. We review and study the mode conversion from UH (upper hybrid) to LO (left hand polarized ordinary) mode waves by a spatially two dimensional plasma fluid code. Several simulations with different initial wave vectors under the same background plasma condition have been performed. We focus on the conversion efficiency from the UH-mode waves with purely perpendicular wave normal angle to the LO-mode waves, since one of the source of generation UH wave can be Bernstein mode as the purely perpendicular electrostatic waves. For this special case, the UH wave normal is kept in perpendicular direction with respect to the magnetic field, and difficult to be in matching direction for conversion to LO mode. Simulation results show that the mode conversion efficiency in this particular case is very weak, since two branches of Z-mode wave and LO mode wave in the dispersion relation are disconnected. We present a discussion to show that for this case (purely perpendicular propagation) a special angle (except 90°), between the magnetic field and the density gradient is necessary for occurrence of efficient mode conversion. For the case (purely perpendicular propagation and the magnetic field perpendicular to the density gradient), the mode conversion just occurred via the tunneling effect, where a steepness of the inhomogeneity plays an essential role.