Three‐dimensional ray tracing of fast magnetosonic waves

Abstract

A three dimensional ray tracing of fast magnetosonic (MS) waves is first performed by using a global core density model and a field‐aligned density model. Simulating results show that MS waves are primarily confined within a few degrees of the geomagnetic equator due to magnetospheric reflection. MS waves originating from different L‐shells on the dayside can propagate either into or out of the plasmasphere through the plasmapause. In particular, MS waves can propagate eastward (later MLT) or westward (earlier MLT) over a broad region of MLT. The current results further reveal a variety of propagation characteristics, particularly important for the MLT distribution of MS waves.