Shear Alfven Research Articles

Thermal force drift wave

A drift instability of a collisional magnetized plasma, unstable due to the Braginskii thermal force but not requiring any direct dissipation such as resistivity or electron inertia, is examined. Unlike conventional drift-modes, the maximum growth rate of the thermal force drift wave (TFDW) is of order the drift frequency, making for a strongly turbulent nonlinear state. A 3D, magnetized two-fluid code is developed to allow the study of both ideal MHD modes as well as lower frequency drift modes. The governing equations are essentially the ideal MHD equations with the inclusion of Hall and thermal force terms in Ohm’s law. This set of equations is reduced in a finite β, long parallel wavelength, and small but significant Larmor radius ordering and tested for shear Alfven waves, parallel sound waves, and drift modes. The code is employed to recover the TFDW instability, to verify the code against the mode’s analytic linear characteristics, and to study the nonlinear behavior of the TFDW. The TFDW growth is strongly suppressed by parallel thermal conduction and thus this mode is more likely to be observed in low temperature plasmas.

Coupled modes in magnetized dense plasma with relativistic-degenerate electrons

Low frequency electrostatic and electromagnetic waves are investigated in ultra-dense quantum magnetoplasma with relativistic-degenerate electron and non-degenerate ion fluids. The dispersion relation is derived for mobile as well as immobile ions by employing hydrodynamic equations for such plasma under the influence of electromagnetic forces and pressure gradient of relativistic-degenerate Fermi gas of electrons. The result shows the coexistence of shear Alfven and ion modes with relativistically modified dispersive properties. The relevance of results to the dense degenerate plasmas of astrophysical origin (for instance, white dwarf stars) is pointed out with brief discussion on ultra-relativistic and non-relativistic limits.

First demonstration of HF-driven ionospheric currents

[1] The first experimental demonstration of HF driven currents in the ionosphere at low ELF/ULF frequencies without relying in the presence of electrojets is presented. The effect was predicted by theoretical/computational means in a recent letter and given the name Ionospheric Current Drive (ICD). The effect relies on modulated F-region HF heating to generate Magneto-Sonic (MS) waves that drive Hall currents when they reach the E-region. The Hall currents inject ELF waves into the Earth-Ionosphere waveguide and helicon and Shear Alfven (SA) waves in the magnetosphere. The proof-of-concept experiments were conducted using the HAARP heater in Alaska under the BRIOCHE program. Waves between 0.1–70 Hz were measured at both near and far sites. The letter discusses the differences between ICD generated waves and those relying on modulation of electrojets.

A self-consistent synthesis description of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling and scale-dependent auroral process using shear Alfvén wave

[1] In order to correctly describe the dynamical behavior of the magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) coupling system and the scale-dependent auroral process, we develop a synthesis formulation that combines the process of (1) the inverse Walen separation of MHD disturbance into parallel- and antiparallel-propagating shear Alfven wave to the ambient magnetic field, (2) the shear Alfven wave reflection process including (3) the scale-dependent electrostatic coupling process through the linearized Knight relation, (4) two-layer ionosphere model, and (5) dynamic conductance variations. A novel procedure that applies the inverse Walen relation to the incompressional MHD disturbances at the inner boundary of the MHD region enables to extract the component of the shear Alfven wave incident to the ionosphere. The extracted incident electric field supplies an electromotive force for the generation of the MI coupling system, and the reflected electric field is generated such that it totally satisfies the synthesis MI-coupling equation. A three-dimensional ionospheric current system is represented by a two-layer model in which the Pedersen and the Hall current are confined in the separated layers, which are connected by field-aligned currents driven by the linear current-voltage relation between two layers. Hence, our scheme possibly reproduces two types of the scale-dependent MI-decoupling process of the perpendicular potential structure: due to the parallel potential drop at the auroral acceleration region and the other due to the parallel potential differences inside the ionosphere. Our newly formulation may be well suited for description of scale-dependent auroral process and mesoscale ionospheric electrodynamics interlocked with the dynamical development of magnetospheric processes.

Relationship between ULF wave mode mix, equatorial electric fields, and ground magnetometer data

[1] The magnetized plasma of near-Earth space supports the shear and fast Alfven, ultralow-frequency (ULF; 1–100 mHz), magnetohydrodynamic wave modes. The fast mode may propagate across the magnetic field, spreading ULF wave energy throughout the magnetosphere, and couple with the shear Alfven mode to form field line resonances (FLRs). The FLR electric field in the magnetosphere may have sufficiently large amplitudes to energize electrons and enhance radiation belt particle diffusion rates. Ozeke et al. (2009) recently described a technique that related the observed north-south ULF magnetic component at the ground, bνg, with the radial electric field component in the equatorial plane of the magnetosphere, eνeq, via the fields in the ionosphere. In this paper we use a fully coupled ULF wave model to determine the ratio eνeq/bνg for a 5 mHz FLR formed at high latitudes. We find that Ozeke et al. (2009) underestimated the ULF wave magnetic field on the ground which varies with ionosphere Hall conductance. This difference is found to be caused by assuming a decoupled wave mode model for the ionosphere fields. Any relationship that involves ULF wavefields in the ionosphere must include the effects of ULF wave mode mixing.

Global energy transfer during a magnetospheric field line resonance

[1] Field line resonances (FLRs) are important for transferring energy from fast mode waves to shear Alfven waves in the Earth's magnetosphere. Using simultaneous multi-satellite observations from THEMIS and the IMAGE ground magnetometer array, we report on the transfer of energy from compressional magnetopause undulations through an FLR to the ionosphere. Energy diversion from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere took place at the FLR: we find net energy flux there to have comparable values in the radial and the field-aligned directions. The field-aligned energy flux, when mapped to the ionosphere, was 0.70 mW/m2 and consistent with the inferred Joule dissipation rate at that time. IMAGE's regional monitoring of wave activity reveals that the temporal evolution of the FLR wave power and energy transfer were correlated with the amplitude profile of magnetopause undulations, confirming these waves to be the FLR driver.

Laboratory realization of an ion-ion hybrid Alfvén wave resonator

[1] In a magnetized plasma with two ion species, shear Alfven waves (or guided electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves) have zero parallel group velocity and experience a cut-off near the ion-ion hybrid frequency. Since the ion-ion hybrid frequency is proportional to the magnetic field, it is possible, in principle, for a magnetic well configuration to behave as an Alfven wave resonator in a two-ion plasma. This study demonstrates such a resonator in a controlled laboratory experiment using a H+-He+ mixture. The resonator response is investigated by launching monochromatic waves and sharp tone-bursts from a magnetic loop antenna. The observed frequency spectra are found to agree with predictions of a theoretical model of trapped eigenmodes.

HF-driven currents in the polar ionosphere

[1] Polar ionospheric heaters have generated ULF/ELF/VLF waves by modulating the auroral electrojet at D/E region altitudes. We present theoretical/computational results indicating that modulated F-region HF heating can generate ionospheric currents even in the absence of electrojet currents. The ELF currents are driven in a two-step process. First, the pressure gradient associated with F-region electron heating drives a local diamagnetic current. This acts as an antenna to inject Magneto-Sonic (MS) waves in the ionospheric plasma. Second, the electric field of the magneto-sonic wave drives Hall currents when it reaches the E region of the ionosphere. The Hall currents act as a secondary antenna that injects waves in the Earth-Ionosphere Waveguide below and Shear Alfven waves upwards to the conjugate regions. The paper examines the scaling and limitations of the concept and suggests proof-of-principle experiments using the HAARP ionospheric heater.

Midnight sector observations of auroral omega bands

We present observations of auroral omega bands on 28 September 2009. Although generally associated with the substorm recovery phase and typically observed in the morning sector, the features presented here occurred just after expansion phase onset and were observed in the midnight sector, dawnward of the onset region. An all-sky imager located in northeastern Iceland revealed that the omega bands were similar to 150 x 200 km in size and propagated eastward at similar to 0.4 km s(-1) while a colocated ground magnetometer recorded the simultaneous occurrence of Ps6 pulsations. Although somewhat smaller and slower moving than the majority of previously reported omega bands, the observed structures are clear examples of this phenomenon, albeit in an atypical location and unusually early in the substorm cycle. The THEMIS C probe provided detailed measurements of the upstream interplanetary environment, while the Cluster satellites were located in the tail plasma sheet conjugate to the ground-based all-sky imager. The Cluster satellites observed bursts of 0.1-3 keV electrons moving parallel to the magnetic field toward the Northern Hemisphere auroral ionosphere; these bursts were associated with increased levels of field-aligned Poynting flux. The in situ measurements are consistent with electron acceleration via shear Alfven waves in the plasma sheet similar to 8 R-E tailward of the Earth. Although a one-to-one association between auroral and magnetospheric features was not found, our observations suggest that Alfven waves in the plasma sheet are responsible for field-aligned currents that cause Ps6 pulsations and auroral brightening in the ionosphere. Our findings agree with the conclusions of earlier studies that auroral omega bands have a source mechanism in the midtail plasma sheet.

Nonlinear long-wavelength torsional Alfvén waves

Aims. We investigate the nonlinear phenomena accompanying long-wavelength torsional waves in solar and stellar coronae. Methods. The second order thin flux-tube approximation is used to determine perturbations of a straight untwisted and non-rotating magnetic flux-tube, nonlinearly induced by long-wavelength axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic waves of small, but finite amplitude. Results. Propagating torsional waves induce compressible perturbations oscillating with double the frequency of the torsional waves. In contrast with plane shear Alfven waves, the amplitude of compressible perturbations is independent of the plasma-β and is proportional to the torsional wave amplitude squared. Standing torsional waves induce compressible perturbations of two kinds, that grow with the characteristic time inversely proportional to the sound speed, and that oscillate at double the frequency of the inducing torsional wave. The growing density perturbation saturates at the level, inversely proportional to the sound speed.

Control of Gradient-Driven Instabilities Using Shear Alfvén Beat Waves

A new technique for manipulation and control of gradient-driven instabilities through nonlinear interaction with Alfvén waves in a laboratory plasma is presented. A narrow, field-aligned density depletion is created in the Large Plasma Device, resulting in coherent, unstable fluctuations on the periphery of the depletion. Two independent shear Alfvén waves are launched along the depletion at separate frequencies, creating a nonlinear beat-wave response at or near the frequency of the original instability. When the beat wave has sufficient amplitude, the original unstable mode is suppressed, leaving only the beat-wave response, generally at lower amplitude.

The parametric decay of Alfvén waves into shear Alfvén waves and dust lower hybrid waves

The parametric decay instability of Alfven wave into low-frequency electrostatic dust-lower-hybrid and electromagnetic shear Alfven waves has been investigated in detail in a dusty plasma in the presence of external/ambient uniform magnetic field. Magnetohydrodynamic fluid equations of plasmas have been employed to find the linear and nonlinear response of the plasma particles for this three-wave nonlinear coupling in a dusty magnetoplasma. Here, relatively high frequency electromagnetic Alfven wave has been taken as the pump wave. It couples with other two low-frequency internal possible modes of the dusty magnetoplasma, viz., the dust-lower-hybrid and shear Alfven waves. The nonlinear dispersion relation of the dust-lower-hybrid wave has been solved to obtain the growth rate of the parametric decay instability. The growth rate is maximum for small value of external magnetic field Bs. It is noticed that the growth rate is proportional to the unperturbed electron number density noe.

Propagation of transversely narrow shear Alfven waves: Structure and radiation of electrostatic plasma waves

Using two‐dimensional (2‐D) particle‐in‐cell simulations, the propagation of a shear Alfven wave (SAW) with narrow structures across an ambient magnetic field B0 is studied. The structures in the electric and magnetic fields, plasma density, and current in the entire SAW structure are examined. The SAW propagating along the x direction has bipolar transverse electric (Ey) and magnetic (Bz) fields. The ponderomotive force associated with these fields generates density enhancements and depletions in the bipolar SAW structure. The leading head of the SAW has the narrowest structure and carries a large parallel current. The head is dominated by large‐amplitude fluctuations in both the parallel component (Ex) and the transverse component (Ey) of the electric fields. When the parallel component is integrated, a parallel potential drop is seen in the leading head. Electrons accelerated in the potential drop generate a broadband turbulence, including high‐frequency electrostatic whistlers. The SAW head radiates the whistler waves along the whistler resonance cones, and they appear as streaks of enhanced fields in the region ahead of it. The SAW structure behind the head radiates ion cyclotron waves at large oblique angles from B0. The relevance of these findings to satellite observations on Alfven wave solitary structures is discussed, especially emphasizing that such a solitary structure could radiate plasma waves in a broadband frequency range from near the ion cyclotron to the lower hybrid frequency.

Convective and Diffusive Energetic Particle Losses Induced by Shear Alfvén Waves in the ASDEX Upgrade Tokamak

We present here the first phase-space characterization of convective and diffusive energetic particle losses induced by shear Alfvén waves in a magnetically confined fusion plasma. While single toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes (TAE) and Alfvén cascades (AC) eject resonant fast ions in a convective process, an overlapping of AC and TAE spatial structures leads to a large fast-ion diffusion and loss. Diffusive fast-ion losses have been observed with a single TAE above a certain threshold in the fluctuation amplitude.

Measurements of Inertial Limit Alfvén Wave Dispersion for Finite Perpendicular Wave Number

Measurements of the dispersion relation for shear Alfvén waves as a function of perpendicular wave number are reported for the inertial regime for which V{A}>V{Te}. The parallel phase velocity and damping are determined as k{ perpendicular} varies and the measurements are compared to theoretical predictions. The comparison shows that the best agreement between theory and experiment is achieved for a fully complex plasma dispersion relation which includes the effects of electron collisions.

Generation of polarized shear Alfvén waves by a rotating magnetic field source

Experiments are performed in the Large Plasma Device at the University of California, Los Angeles to study the propagation of field-aligned, polarized kinetic shear Alfvén waves radiated from a rotating magnetic field source created via a novel phased orthogonal loop antenna. Both right and left hand circular polarizations are generated at a wide range of frequencies from 0.21≤ω/Ωci<0.93. Propagation parallel to the background magnetic field near the Alfvén velocity is observed along with a small parallel wave magnetic field component implying a shear mode. The peak-to-peak magnitude of the wave magnetic field, 33 cm away from the antenna, is on the order of 0.8% of the background field and drops off in the far field. The full width at half maximum of the wave energy changes little over a distance of 2.5 parallel wavelengths while the exponential decrease in wave energy as a function of distance can be attributed to collisional damping. Evidence of electron heating and ionization is observed during the pulse.

A magnetized, spherical plasma expansion in an inhomogeneous plasma: Transition from super- to sub-Alfvénic

[1] In this letter the transition of a strong 3-D collisionless shock into sub-Alfvenic waves is numerically. The transition occurs due to changes in the background plasma parameters. The Alfven speed eventually exceeds the shock speed; the shock does not run out of energy. At this velocity transition, the shock disassembles into two types of waves: the usual compressional Alfven wave and a left-hand polarized electromagnetic shear Alfven wave. This latter wave shows remarkable 3-D coherence, and preliminary analysis suggests that there are two possible sources of energy: one is coupling to the strong electromagnetic waves that exist within the collisionless shock and the other is the density and magnetic field gradients at the interface.

Control of the energetic proton flux in the inner radiation belt by artificial means

Earth's inner radiation belt located inside L = 2 is dominated by a relatively stable flux of trapped protons with energy from a few to over 100 MeV. Radiation effects in spacecraft electronics caused by the inner radiation belt protons are the major cause of performance anomalies and lifetime of Low Earth Orbit satellites. For electronic components with large feature size, of the order of a micron, anomalies occur mainly when crossing the South Atlantic Anomaly. However, current and future commercial electronic systems are incorporating components with submicron size features. Such systems cannot function in the presence of the trapped 30–100 MeV protons, as hardening against such high‐energy protons is essentially impractical. The paper discusses the basic physics of the interaction of high‐energy protons with low‐frequency Shear Alfven Wave (SAW) under conditions prevailing in the radiation belts. Such waves are observed mainly in the outer belt, and it is believed that they are excited by an Alfven Ion Cyclotron instability driven by anisotropic equatorially trapped energetic protons. The paper derives the bounce and drift‐averaged diffusion coefficients and uses them to determine the proton lifetime as a function of the spectrum and amplitude of the volume‐averaged SAW resonant with the trapped energetic protons. The theory is applied to the outer and inner radiation belts. It is found that the resonant interaction of observed SAW with nT amplitude in the outer belt results in low flux of trapped protons by restricting their lifetime to periods shorter than days. A similar analysis for the inner radiation belt indicates that broadband SAW in the 1–10 Hz frequency range and average amplitude of 25 pT would reduce the trapped energetic proton flux by more than an order of magnitude within 2 to 3 years. In the absence of naturally occurring SAW waves, such reduction can be achieved by injecting such waves from ground‐based transmitters. The analysis indicates that such reduction requires injection of less than 10 kW of SAW power. Increasing the power will result in the further decrease of the trapped flux. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of techniques that can inject such waves using ground‐based transmitters.

Hydromagnetic waves and instabilities in kappa distribution plasma

Stability properties of hydromagnetic waves (shear and compressional Alfven waves) in spatially homogeneous plasma are investigated when the equilibrium particle velocity distributions in both parallel and perpendicular directions (in reference to the ambient magnetic field) are modeled by kappa distributions. Analysis is presented for the limiting cases |ξα|⪡1 and |ξα|⪢1 for which solutions of the dispersion relations are analytically tractable. Here ξα(α=e,i) is the ratio of the wave phase speed and the electron (ion) thermal speed. Both low and high β (=plasma pressure/magnetic pressure) plasmas are considered. The distinguishing features of the hydromagnetic waves in kappa distribution plasma are (1) both Landau damping and transit-time damping rates are larger than those in Maxwellian plasma because of the enhanced high-energy tail of the kappa distribution and (2) density and temperature perturbations in response to the electromagnetic perturbations are different from those in Maxwellian plasma when |ξα|⪡1. Moreover, frequency of the oscillatory stable modes (e.g., kinetic shear Alfven wave) and excitation condition of the nonoscillatory (zero frequency) unstable modes (e.g., mirror instability) in kappa distribution plasma are also different from those in Maxwellian plasma. Quantitative estimates of the differences depend on the specific choice of the kappa distribution. For simplicity of notations, same spectral indices κ∥ and κ⊥ have been assumed for both electron and ion population. However, the analysis can be easily generalized to allow for different values of the spectral indices for the two charged populations.

Linear coupling of Alfven waves and acoustic-type modes in dense quantum magnetoplasmas

A coupled dispersion relation of low frequency shear Alfven waves and electrostatic waves in a dense quantum magnetoplasma is derived by using hydrodynamic model. The dispersive contribution of electron quantum effects is discussed for dynamic as well as static ions. The dominant role of electron Fermi pressure is highlighted and its comparison with the quantum pressure arising due to quantum Bohm potential is presented. For illustrative purpose, the results are analyzed numerically. The relevance of present work with the dense astrophysical and laboratory plasmas is pointed out with possible consequences.