Ray Tracing Study of Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves Associated with Bi-Ion Frequencies

Abstract

Ray tracing study of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves is conducted based on a realistic plasma density model. The simulation result shows that EMIC waves propagate away from the equatorial source region to higher latitudes basically along geomagnetic field lines, and are reflected at the region where their frequency matches the local bi-ion frequency. H+ band suffers H+-He+ bi-ion frequency reflection at lower latitudes, whereas He+ band suffers He+-O+ bi-ion frequency reflection at higher latitudes. Moreover, the concentration of heavy ions slightly affects the bi-ion frequencies and then slightly determines the reflection location of ray paths of EMIC waves. The current results present the first detailed study on the propagation characteristics of EMIC waves associated with bi-ion frequencies.