Open AccessDirect observation of an interaction in magnetosphere
Author(s) -
Balcerak Ernie
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1002/2013eo450017
Subject(s) - magnetosphere , physics , harmonics , ring current , resonance (particle physics) , equator , oscillation (cell signaling) , charged particle , spacecraft , earth's magnetic field , atomic physics , computational physics , geophysics , ion , quantum electrodynamics , magnetic field , voltage , quantum mechanics , astronomy , latitude , biology , genetics
Researchers have now directly observed an interaction between poloidal waves, a type of ultralow‐frequency oscillation of the Earth's geomagnetic fields, and ions in the ring current, a band of charged particles drifting around Earth in the magnetosphere above the equator. This so‐called drift resonance wave‐particle interaction has been studied theoretically, and some modes of the interaction (in particular the second harmonics, similar to higher‐frequency vibrations of a vibrating string) have been reported in spacecraft observations, but the first fundamental mode resonances of this interaction had not been clearly observed.