The Characteristic Response of Whistler Mode Waves to Interplanetary Shocks

Abstract

Magnetospheric whistler mode waves play a key role in regulating the dynamics of the electron radiation belts. Recent satellite observations indicate a significant influence of interplanetary (IP) shocks on whistler mode wave power in the inner magnetosphere. In this study, we statistically investigate the response of whistler mode chorus and plasmaspheric hiss to IP shocks based on Van Allen Probes and THEMIS satellite observations. Immediately after the IP shock arrival, chorus wave power is usually intensified, often at postmidnight to prenoon sector, while plasmaspheric hiss wave power predominantly decreases near the dayside but intensifies near the nightside. We conclude that chorus wave intensification outside the plasmasphere is probably associated with the suprathermal electron flux enhancement caused by the IP shock. Through a simple ray tracing modeling assuming the scenario that plasmaspheric hiss is originated from chorus, we find that the solar wind dynamic pressure increase changes the magnetic field configuration to favor ray penetration in the nightside and promote ray refraction away from the dayside, potentially explaining the magnetic local time‐dependent responses of plasmaspheric hiss waves following IP shock arrivals.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2017
Source ID
10.1002/2017ja024574

Entities

People

  • Chao Yue
  • Chen Zhou
  • Craig Kletzing
  • Geoffrey D Reeves
  • Harlan Spence
  • Jacob Bortnik
  • Jinxing Li
  • Lunjin Chen
  • Qianli Ma
  • Richard Thorne
  • Vassilis Angelopoulos
  • Xin An

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Boston University
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • National Sleep Foundation
  • University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
  • University of Iowa
  • University of New Hampshire
  • University of Texas at Dallas
  • Wuhan University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion Dynamics and Shock Wave Physics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space