Abstract

A field-aligned eigenode analysis of compressional Alfven instabilities has been performed for a two component anisotropic plasma in a dipole magnetic field. The eigenmode equations are derived from the gyrokinetic equations in the long wavelength (k rho < 1) and low frequency (..omega.. < ..omega../sub b/) limits, where rho is the hot particle gyroradius and ..omega../sub b/ is the hot particle bounce frequency. Two types of compressional instabilities are identified. One is the drift mirror mode which has an odd parity compressional magnetic component with respect to the magnetic equator. The other is the drift compressional mode with an even parity compressional magnetic component. For typical storm time plasma parameters neargeosynchronous orbit, the drift mirror mode is most unstable and the drift compressional mode is stable. The storm time compressional Pc 5 waves, observed by multiple satellites during November 14-15, 1979 (Takahashi et al., 1987), can be explained by the drift mirror instability.

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