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Generation of kinetic Alfvén waves by mirror instability
Author(s) -
Wu B. H.,
Wang J. M.,
Lee L. C.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2001gl012958
Subject(s) - physics , magnetosphere , instability , wavenumber , magnetosheath , magnetopause , magnetic field , kinetic energy , computational physics , wave propagation , optics , classical mechanics , mechanics , quantum mechanics
The perturbed velocity δ V and δ B of mirror waves are usually coplanar with the wave vector k and background magnetic field B 0 . However, recent satellite observations and hybrid simulations show the presence of extra non‐coplanar components in δ V and δ B associated with mirror waves. In this paper, we show from hybrid simulations that in the nonlinear stage of mirror instability, the non‐coplanar perturbations in δ V and δ B of high wavenumber modes can be decoupled from mirror waves and generate a pair of kinetic Alfvén waves propagating in opposite direction. The Hall effect can explain the excitation of non‐coplanar components in mirror waves. These kinetic Alfvén waves can be generated in the day side magnetosheath, propagate tailward along the magnetic field lines draped around the magnetopause, and contribute to the plasma transport into magnetosphere.