Proton and Alpha Driven Instabilities in an Ion Cyclotron Wave Event

• Main Authors: McManus, Michael D, Klein, Kristopher G, Larson, Davin, Bale, Stuart D, Bowen, Trevor A, Huang, Jia, Livi, Roberto, Rahmati, Ali, Romeo, Orlando, Verniero, Jaye, Whittlesey, Phyllis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 21.10.2023
• Subjects: Physics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2310.14136

Ion scale wave events or "wave storms" in the solar wind are characterised by enhancements in magnetic field fluctuations as well as coherent magnetic field polarisation signatures at or around the local ion cyclotron frequencies. In this paper we study in detail one such wave event from Parker Solar Probe's (PSP) fourth encounter, consisting of an initial period of left-handed (LH) polarisation abruptly transitioning to a strong period of right-handed (RH) polarisation, accompanied by clear core-beam structure in both the alpha and proton velocity distribution functions. A linear stability analysis shows that the LH polarised waves are anti-Sunward propagating Alfv\'en/ion cyclotron (A/IC) waves primarily driven by a proton cyclotron instability in the proton core population, and the RH polarised waves are anti-Sunward propagating fast magnetosonic/whistler (FM/W) waves driven by a firehose-like instability in the secondary alpha beam population. The abrupt transition from LH to RH is caused by a drop in the proton core temperature anisotropy. We find very good agreement between the frequencies and polarisations of the unstable wave modes as predicted by linear theory and those observed in the magnetic field spectra. Given the ubiquity of ion scale wave signatures observed by PSP, this work gives insight into which exact instabilities may be active and mediating energy transfer in wave-particle interactions in the inner heliosphere, as well as highlighting the role a secondary alpha population may play as a rarely considered source of free energy available for producing wave activity.