Generation mechanism of ESW based on GEOTAIL plasma wave observation, plasma observation and particle simulation

Abstract

Data of electrostatic waves and plasma particles in the deep magnetotail (X ∼ −209RE) respectively obtained by Plasma Wave Instrument and Comprehensive Plasma Instrument onboard the GEOTAIL spacecraft are presented. When the GEOTAIL spacecraft experienced multiple crossings of the plasma sheet boundary layer, broadband electrostatic noise (BEN) and Langmuir wave were observed alternatively. The dynamic frequency spectra of BEN are very bursty in time, and their waveforms are a series of electrostatic solitary waves (ESW). The LW is observed when an enhancement of an electron flux is found on a high‐energy tail of a relatively cold velocity distribution function of the major thermal electrons. The ESW, on the other hand, are observed in the presence of a hot thermal electron distribution function, in which electrons responsible for the ESW are embedded. These plasma conditions are in agreement with the ESW generation model based on particle simulations.