Open AccessGeneration and evolution of intense ion cyclotron turbulence by artificial plasma cloud in the magnetosphere
Author(s) -
Ganguli Gurudas,
Rudakov Leonid,
Mithaiwala Manish,
Papadopoulos Konstantinos
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2006ja012162
Subject(s) - physics , atomic physics , magnetosphere , cyclotron , ion , electromagnetic radiation , electron , ion cyclotron resonance , computational physics , plasma , optics , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics
It is shown that intense ion cyclotron turbulence can be induced in the near‐Earth space by shaped release of neutral gas of materials such as lithium, cesium, etc. Release of 1 ton of neutral lithium gas in the Earth's equatorial plane at L = 2 can introduce about 30 GJ of energy which can be used to excite waves around the lithium ion cyclotron harmonics that readily evolves into the turbulent state. The energy is obtained by converting the orbital kinetic energy of the neutral lithium atoms into free energy for the electromagnetic waves through photoionization and creation of a ring distribution in the lithium ion velocity perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field. This distribution function is highly unstable and can spontaneously trigger large amplitude shear Alfven waves near lithium cyclotron harmonics with unique nonlinear properties. These waves lead to pitch angle scattering of the trapped electrons in a broad energy band.