Low Frequency ULF Waves in the Earth's Inner Magnetosphere: Power Spectra During High Speed Streams and Quiet Solar Wind and Seeding of EMIC Waves.

Here, we extend the scope of the Gamayunov and Engebretson (2021, hereinafter Paper 1), https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029247 work by analyzing the low frequency ultra-low-frequency (ULF) wave power spectra in the Earth's inner magnetosphere during high speed stream (HSS) and quiet solar wind (QSW) driving conditions in the upstream solar wind (SW) and comparing our results to the results of Paper 1, where the statistics of ULF wave power spectra during coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are presented. The most important results of our statistical and comparative analyses are as follows. (a) During CMEs, HSSs, and QSW, the magnetic field power spectra of the transverse and compressional fluctuations are well approximated by power laws in the ∼mHz-Hz frequency range, where on average the parameters of power law fits during CMEs and HSSs are close, and those during QSW differ considerably from the respective parameters during CMEs and HSSs. (b) The dominance of the average compressional power over the average transverse power for the low frequency ULF waves during the 0 < SYM/H â‰² 25 nT geomagnetic conditions may serve as a proxy of HSSs in the upstream SW, whereas the opposite relation between the average powers is an indication of CMEs. (c) Independently of the SW driving conditions, a turbulent energy cascade from low frequencies in the ULF wave frequency range into the higher frequency range exists in the Earth's inner magnetosphere, supplying the nonthermal electromagnetic seed fluctuations needed for the growth of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves (∼Hz) due to relaxation of unstable distributions of energetic magnetospheric ions.

Wave-induced loss of ultra-relativistic electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts.

The dipole configuration of the Earth's magnetic field allows for the trapping of highly energetic particles, which form the radiation belts. Although significant advances have been made in understanding the acceleration mechanisms in the radiation belts, the loss processes remain poorly understood. Unique observations on 17 January 2013 provide detailed information throughout the belts on the energy spectrum and pitch angle (angle between the velocity of a particle and the magnetic field) distribution of electrons up to ultra-relativistic energies. Here we show that although relativistic electrons are enhanced, ultra-relativistic electrons become depleted and distributions of particles show very clear telltale signatures of electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave-induced loss. Comparisons between observations and modelling of the evolution of the electron flux and pitch angle show that electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves provide the dominant loss mechanism at ultra-relativistic energies and produce a profound dropout of the ultra-relativistic radiation belt fluxes.

Wave acceleration of electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts.

The Van Allen radiation belts are two regions encircling the Earth in which energetic charged particles are trapped inside the Earth's magnetic field. Their properties vary according to solar activity and they represent a hazard to satellites and humans in space. An important challenge has been to explain how the charged particles within these belts are accelerated to very high energies of several million electron volts. Here we show, on the basis of the analysis of a rare event where the outer radiation belt was depleted and then re-formed closer to the Earth, that the long established theory of acceleration by radial diffusion is inadequate; the electrons are accelerated more effectively by electromagnetic waves at frequencies of a few kilohertz. Wave acceleration can increase the electron flux by more than three orders of magnitude over the observed timescale of one to two days, more than sufficient to explain the new radiation belt. Wave acceleration could also be important for Jupiter, Saturn and other astrophysical objects with magnetic fields.