Observational evidence of the drift-mirror plasma instability in Earth's inner magnetosphere

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2019

Abstract

We report on evidence for the generation of an ultra-low frequency plasma wave by the drift-mirror plasma instability in the dynamic plasma environment of Earth's inner magnetosphere. The plasma measurements are obtained from the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Ion Composition Experiment onboard NASA's Van Allen Probes Satellites. We show that the measured wave-particle interactions are driven by the drift-mirror instability. Theoretical analysis of the data demonstrates that the drift-mirror mode plasma instability condition is well satisfied. We also demonstrate, for the first time, that the measured wave growth rate agrees well with the predicted linear theory growth rate. Hence, the in-situ space plasma observations and theoretical analysis demonstrate that local generation of ultra-low frequency and high amplitude plasma waves can occur in the high beta plasma conditions of Earth's inner magnetosphere.

Identifier

85064225590 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Physics of Plasmas

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5083629

e-ISSN

10897674

ISSN

1070664X

Issue

4

Volume

26

Grant

921647

Fund Ref

National Science Foundation

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS