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Abstract The collisionless nature of planetary magnetospheres means that electromagnetic forces are fundamental in controlling the flow of energy and momentum through these systems. We use Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) observations to demonstrate that the magnetic pumping process can be active at Venus, in analogy to its recent discovery at Mars. The presented case study demonstrates the framework for how the process can work at Venus, and the results of a statistical analysis show that the ambient plasma conditions support the process being active. Magnetic pumping enables low frequency magnetosonic waves to heat ambient ionospheric electrons and provides a mechanism that couples the solar wind to the Venusian ionosphere. This is the first time the magnetic pumping process has been discussed at Venus.

We report on the detection of the Brightest Of All Time (the BOAT) gamma-ray burst (GRB) 221009A by the MAVEN Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) silicon (Si) detectors. The SEP instrument on board the MAVEN spacecraft at Mars is designed to measure charged particle fluxes and energies. In this work, we show that the SEP Si detectors have detected populations of secondary charged particles and low-energy primary photons from the GRB. Our analysis relies on a series of simplified Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations. We show that electromagnetic and hadronic interactions between the GRB photons and the spacecraft’s passive material and Si detectors produced the detected secondary particles.

This Letter describes a new phenomenon on the Parker Solar Probe of recurring plasma density enhancements that have Δ n/n ∼ 10% and that occur at a repetition rate of ∼5 Hz. They were observed sporadically for about 5 hr between 14 and 15 solar radii on Parker Solar Probe orbit 12 and they were also seen in the same radial range on both the inbound and outbound orbits 11. Their apparently steady-state existence suggests that their pressure gradient was balanced by the electric field. The X-component of the electric field component produced from this requirement is in good agreement with that measured. This provides strong evidence for the measurement accuracy of the density fluctuations and the X- and Y-components of the electric field (the Z-component was not measured). The electrostatic density waves were accompanied by an electromagnetic low-frequency wave, which occurred with the electrostatic harmonics. The amplitudes of these electrostatic and electromagnetic waves at ≥1 Hz were greater than the amplitude of the Alfvénic turbulence in their vicinity so they can be important for the heating, scattering, and acceleration of the plasma. The existence of this pair of waves is consistent with the observed plasma distributions and is explained as an oscilliton due to the nonlinear coupling between the kinetic Alfvén wave and the ion cyclotron mode, which belongs with the minor population of alpha particles.

The modeling of very low-frequency (VLF) electromagnetic (EM) beam propagation in the Earth–ionosphere waveguide (WGEI) is considered. A new tensor impedance method for modeling the propagation of electromagnetic beams in a multi-layered and inhomogeneous waveguide is presented. The waveguide is assumed to possess the gyrotropy and inhomogeneity with a thick cover layer placed above the waveguide. The influence of geomagnetic field inclination and carrier beam frequency on the characteristics of the polarization transformation in the Earth–ionosphere waveguide is determined. The new method for modeling the propagation of electromagnetic beams allows us to study the (i) propagation of the very low-frequency modes in the Earth–ionosphere waveguide and, in perspective, their excitation by the typical Earth–ionosphere waveguide sources, such as radio wave transmitters and lightning discharges, and (ii) leakage of Earth–ionosphere waveguide waves into the upper ionosphere and magnetosphere. The proposed approach can be applied to the variety of problems related to the analysis of the propagation of electromagnetic waves in layered gyrotropic and anisotropic active media in a wide frequency range, e.g., from the Earth–ionosphere waveguide to the optical waveband, for artificial signal propagation such as metamaterial microwave or optical waveguides.

Chorus-type whistler waves are one of the most intense electromagnetic waves generated naturally in the magnetosphere. These waves have a substantial impact on the radiation belt dynamics as they are thought to contribute to electron acceleration and losses into the ionosphere through resonant wave–particle interaction. Our study is devoted to the determination of chorus wave power distribution on frequency in a wide range of magnetic latitudes, from 0 to 40°. We use 10 years of magnetic and electric field wave power measured by STAFF-SA onboard Cluster spacecraft to model the initial (equatorial) chorus wave spectral power, as well as PEACE and RAPID measurements to model the properties of energetic electrons (~ 0.1–100 keV) in the outer radiation belt. The dependence of this distribution upon latitude obtained from Cluster STAFF-SA is then consistently reproduced along a certain L-shell range (4 ≤ L ≤ 6.5), employing WHAMP-based ray tracing simulations in hot plasma within a realistic inner magnetospheric model. We show here that, as latitude increases, the chorus peak frequency is globally shifted towards lower frequencies. Making use of our simulations, the peak frequency variations can be explained mostly in terms of wave damping and amplification, but also cross-L propagation. These results are in good agreement with previous studies of chorus wave spectral extent using data from different spacecraft (Cluster, POLAR and THEMIS). The chorus peak frequency variations are then employed to calculate the pitch angle and energy diffusion rates, resulting in more effective pitch angle electron scattering (electron lifetime is halved) but less effective acceleration. These peak frequency parameters can thus be used to improve the accuracy of diffusion coefficient calculations.

Generation of extremely/very low frequency (ELF/VLF) chorus waves in Earth's inner magnetosphere has received increased attention recently because of their significance for radiation belt dynamics. Though past theoretical and numerical models have demonstrated how rising-tone chorus elements are produced, falling-tone chorus element generation has yet to be explained. Our new model proposes that weak-amplitude falling-tone chorus elements can be generated by magnetospheric reflection of rising-tone elements. Using ray tracing in a realistic plasma model of the inner magnetosphere, we demonstrate that rising-tone elements originating at the magnetic equator propagate to higher latitudes. Upon reflection there, they propagate to lower L-shells and turn into oblique falling tones of reduced power, frequency, and bandwidth relative to their progenitor rising tones. Our results are in good agreement with comprehensive statistical studies of such waves, notably using magnetic field measurements from THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) spacecraft. Thus, we conclude that the proposed mechanism can be responsible for the generation of weak-amplitude falling-tone chorus emissions.

Chorus-type whistler waves are known to be generated in the vicinity of the magnetic equator, in the low-density plasma trough region. These wave packets propagate towards the magnetic poles, deviating from the magnetic field lines, before being eventually reflected at higher latitudes. Magnetospheric reflection of whistler waves results in bounce oscillations of these waves through the equator. Our study is devoted to the problem of geometrical spreading of these whistler-mode waves after their first magnetospheric reflection, which is crucial to determine where wave–particle interactions occur. Recently, experimental studies stated that the relative intensity of the reflected signal was generally between 0.005 and 0.05 of the source signal. We model such wave packets by means of ray tracing technique, using a warm plasma dispersion function along their trajectory and a realistic model of the inner magnetosphere. We reproduce the topology of the reflected energy distribution in the equatorial plane by modeling discrete chorus elements generated at the equator. Our calculations show that the spatial spreading is large and strongly dependent upon initial wave parameters, especially the chorus wave frequency. Thus, the divergence of each element ray trajectories can result in the filling of a large region (about 4 Earth radii around the source) of the magnetosphere and a reflected intensity of 0.005–0.06 of the source signal in the equatorial plane. These results are in good agreement with previous Cluster and THEMIS observations.

Discrete ELF/VLF (Extremely Low Frequency/Very Low Frequency) chorus emissions are one of the most intense electromagnetic plasma waves observed in radiation belts and in the outer terrestrial magnetosphere. These waves play a crucial role in the dynamics of radiation belts, and are responsible for the loss and the acceleration of energetic electrons. The objective of our study is to reconstruct the realistic distribution of chorus wave-normals in radiation belts for all magnetic latitudes. To achieve this aim, the data from the electric and magnetic field measurements onboard Cluster satellite are used to determine the wave-vector distribution of the chorus signal around the equator region. Then the propagation of such a wave packet is modeled using three-dimensional ray tracing technique, which employs K. Rönnmark's WHAMP to solve hot plasma dispersion relation along the wave packet trajectory. The observed chorus wave distributions close to waves source are first fitted to form the initial conditions which then propagate numerically through the inner magnetosphere in the frame of the WKB approximation. Ray tracing technique allows one to reconstruct wave packet properties (electric and magnetic fields, width of the wave packet in k-space, etc.) along the propagation path. The calculations show the spatial spreading of the signal energy due to propagation in the inhomogeneous and anisotropic magnetized plasma. Comparison of wave-normal distribution obtained from ray tracing technique with Cluster observations up to 40° latitude demonstrates the reliability of our approach and applied numerical schemes.

Ducted propagation of whistler waves in the terrestrial magnetosphere-ionosphere system was discussed and studied long before the first in-situ spacecraft measurements. While a number of implicit examples of the existence of ducted propagation have been found, direct observation of ducts has been hampered by the low sampling rates of measurements of the plasma density. The present paper is based on Cluster observations of chorus waves. The ability to use measurements of the spacecraft potential as a proxy for high time resolution electron density measurements is exploited to identify a number of cases when increased chorus wave power, observed within the radiation belts, is observed simultaneously with density enchantments. It is argued that the observation of ducted propagation of chorus implies modification of numerical models for plasma-wave interactions within the radiation belts.

Discrete ELF/VLF chorus emissions are the most intense electromagnetic plasma waves observed in the radiation belts of the Earth's magnetosphere. Chorus emissions, whistler-mode wave packets propagating roughly along magnetic field lines from a well-localized source in the vicinity of the magnetic equator to polar regions, can be reflected at low altitudes. After reflection, wave packets can return to the equatorial plane region. Understanding of whistler wave propagation and reflection is critical to a correct description of wave-particle interaction in the radiation belts. We focus on properties of reflected chorus emissions observed by the THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions During Substorms) spacecraft Search Coil Magnetometer (SCM) and Electric Field Instrument (EFI) at ELF/VLF frequencies up to 4 kHz at L≥8. We determine the direction of the Poynting flux and wave vector distribution for forward and reflected chorus waves. Although both types of chorus waves were detected near the magnetic equator and have similar, discrete structure and rising tones, reflected waves are attenuated by a factor of 10–30 and have 10% higher frequency than concurrently-observed forward waves. Modeling of wave propagation and reflection using geometrical optics ray-tracing allowed us to determine the chorus source region location and explain observed propagation characteristics. We find that reflected wave attenuation at a certain spatial region is caused by divergence of the ray paths of these non-ducted emissions, and that the frequency shift is caused by generation of the reflected waves at lower L-shells where the local equatorial gyrofrequency is larger.

Discrete ELF/VLF chorus emissions, the most intense electromagnetic plasma waves observed in the Earth's radiation belts and outer magnetosphere, are thought to propagate roughly along magnetic field lines from a localized source region near the magnetic equator towards the magnetic poles. THEMIS project Electric Field Instrument (EFI) and Search Coil Magnetometer (SCM) measurements were used to determine the spatial scale of the chorus source localization region on the day side of the Earth's outer magnetosphere. We present simultaneous observations of the same chorus elements registered onboard several THEMIS spacecraft in 2007 when all the spacecraft were in the same orbit. Discrete chorus elements were observed at 0.15–0.25 of the local electron gyrofrequency, which is typical for the outer magnetosphere. We evaluated the Poynting flux and wave vector distribution and obtained chorus wave packet quasi-parallel propagation to the local magnetic field. Amplitude and phase correlation data analysis allowed us to estimate the characteristic spatial correlation scale transverse to the local magnetic field to be in the 2800–3200 km range.

The properties of cold, dense, low energy ( < 150 eV) ions within Earth's magnetosphere between 6 and 14 R E distance are examined using data sampled by Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms spacecraft during a new low-energy plasma mode that operated from June 2016 to July 2017. These ions are a persistent feature of the magnetosphere during enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure and/or magnetospheric activity. These ions have densities ranging from 0.5 to tens of c m - 3 , with a mean of ∼ 1 c m - 3 and temperatures of a few to tens of eV, with a mean of ∼ 13 eV. These yield cold to hot ion density and temperature ratios that are 4.4 and 4 × 1 0 - 3 , respectively. Comparisons reveal that the cold ion densities are positively correlated with solar wind dynamic pressure. These ions are organizable, according to their pitch-angle distribution, as being transverse/convection dominated (interpreted as plume plasma) or magnetic field-aligned (FAL) (uni- or bi-directional characteristic of ion outflow or cloak plasma). Transverse ions preferentially occur in the prenoon to dusk sectors during sustained active magnetospheric conditions driven by enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure under southward B z and westward B y IMF orientations. Transverse ion velocities (reaching several tens of km/s) have a westward directed tendency with a slight radially outward preference. In contrast FAL ions preferentially occur from morning to noon during northward IMF orientations, enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure, and quiet magnetospheric conditions within several hours after moderate to strong activity. The FAL ions also have bulk velocities ≲ 30 km/s, with an eastward and radially outward tendency., (© 2021. The Authors.)

Microbursts are an impulsive increase of electrons from the radiation belts into the atmosphere and have been directly observed in low Earth orbit and the upper atmosphere. Prior work has estimated that microbursts are capable of rapidly depleting the radiation belt electrons on the order of a day; hence, their role to radiation belt electron losses must be considered. Losses due to microbursts are not well constrained, and more work is necessary to accurately quantify their contribution as a loss process. To address this question, we present a statistical study of > 35 keV microburst sizes using the pair of AeroCube-6 CubeSats. The microburst size distribution in low Earth orbit and the magnetic equator was derived using both spacecraft. In low Earth orbit, the majority of microbursts were observed, while the AeroCube-6 separation was less than a few tens of kilometers, mostly in latitude. To account for the statistical effects of random microburst locations and sizes, Monte Carlo and analytic models were developed to test hypothesized microburst size distributions. A family of microburst size distributions were tested, and a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampler was used to estimate the optimal distribution of model parameters. Finally, a majority of observed microbursts map to sizes less than 200 km at the magnetic equator. Since microbursts are widely believed to be generated by scattering of radiation belt electrons by whistler mode waves, the observed microburst size distribution was compared to whistler mode chorus size distributions derived in prior literature., (©2020. The Authors.)

The mechanisms for accelerating electrons from thermal to relativistic energies in the terrestrial magnetosphere, on the sun, and in many astrophysical environments have never been verified. We present the first direct observation of two processes that, in a chain, cause this acceleration in Earth's outer radiation belt. The two processes are parallel acceleration from electron-volt to kilovolt energies by parallel electric fields in time-domain structures (TDS), after which the parallel electron velocity becomes sufficiently large for Doppler-shifted upper band whistler frequencies to be in resonance with the electron gyration frequency, even though the electron energies are kilovolts and not hundreds of kilovolts. The electrons are then accelerated by the whistler perpendicular electric field to relativistic energies in several resonant interactions. TDS are packets of electric field spikes, each spike having duration of a few hundred microseconds and containing a local parallel electric field. The TDS of interest resulted from nonlinearity of the parallel electric field component in oblique whistlers and consisted of ∼ 0.1 msec pulses superposed on the whistler waveform with each such spike containing a net parallel potential the order of 50 V. Local magnetic field compression from remote activity provided the free energy to drive the two processes. The expected temporal correlations between the compressed magnetic field, the nonlinear whistlers with their parallel electric field spikes, the electron flux and the electron pitch angle distributions were all observed.