Double Plasma Resonance at Ion Cyclotron Harmonics in the Jovian Magnetosphere

Abstract

AbstractThe ion cyclotron waves instability near the frequencies of ionic cyclotron harmonics is studied under conditions typical for the Jovian kilometer radio emission source. This instability is caused by the presence of the ions with a nonequilibrium loss cone‐type distribution function in the source. Expressions for the growth rate of the ion cyclotron wave's instability are obtained, and it is shown that the amplification of these waves significantly increases when the frequency of the lower‐hybrid resonance coincides with one of the ion cyclotron harmonics. Possible mechanisms for conversion of the ion cyclotron waves excited in the Jovian kilometer radio emission source into electromagnetic radiation are discussed. It is shown that the conversion of ion cyclotron waves, due to their coalescence with high‐frequency plasma waves, is possible only into ordinary electromagnetic waves, while the process capable of providing conversion of ion cyclotron waves into fast extraordinary electromagnetic waves is scattering by suprathermal electron fluxes. In the latter, despite the thermal spread of electron velocities, the radiation that leaves the source region is concentrated in a narrow frequency range Δω ≪ ω near the local gyrofrequency ω≃ωBe, and the polarization of this radiation corresponds to the extraordinary wave. The estimates of the electron energy, which is necessary for such conversion, have shown the possibility of the process realizing under conditions characteristic for the Jovian kilometer radio emission source.