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Three‐dimensional numerical simulation of ion and electron accelerations by parametric decay of fast lower hybrid waves
Author(s) -
Singh Nagendra,
AlSharaeh S.,
Abdelrazek A.,
Leung W. C.,
Wells B. Earl
Publication year - 1996
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 - 10.1029/96gl03310
Subject(s) - particle acceleration , lower hybrid oscillation , computational physics , physics , ion , electron , cyclotron , acceleration , particle in cell , nonlinear system , parametric statistics , atomic physics , wave propagation , ionosphere , geophysics , optics , nuclear physics , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics , statistics , mathematics
The transverse acceleration of ions by fast lower hybrid waves in the topside auroral ionosphere has remained elusive. The linear and nonlinear propagation and evolution of lower hybrid waves are essentially a three‐dimensional problem. Analytical treatment of this problem, including the essential kinetic effects for particle acceleration, is a formidable task if not impossible. We have treated this problem by a fully three‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell simulation. It is found that a fast lower hybrid pump wave undergoes a parametric decay generating secondary waves over a broad frequency range from the ion cyclotron frequency Ω i to just above the lower hybrid frequency ω ℓh . These secondary waves are instrumental in the accelerations of both cold ions and electrons perpendicular and parallel to the ambient magnetic field B , respectively.