Observations of correlated broadband electrostatic noise and electron cyclotron emissions in the plasma sheet

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 53 - 56
• Main Authors: Roeder, J. L., Angelopoulos, V., Baumjohann, W., Anderson, R. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.1991; American Geophysical Union
• Subjects: 640201 - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral, Ionospheric, & Magetospheric Phenomena; BEAMS; Broadband; CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; Correlation; CORRELATIONS; Cyclotrons; DATA; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE; Earth, ocean, space; ELECTRIC FIELDS; ELECTRON BEAMS; ELECTRON PLASMA WAVES; Electrostatic and electromagnetic waves; Electrostatics; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; INFORMATION; INSTABILITY; LEPTON BEAMS; LOSS CONE INSTABILITY; MAGNETOTAIL; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; Noise; PARTICLE BEAMS; Physics of the magnetosphere; PLASMA INSTABILITY; PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES; PLASMA SHEET; PLASMA WAVES; SATELLITES; Stability; VARIATIONS; Wide band noise; Electron cyclotron wave; Electron beam; Satellite observation; Electrostatic wave; Magnetosphere; Loss cone; Electric field; Plasma instability; Correlation analysis; Linear theory; Magnetospheric tail; Plasma layer; Wave generation
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/90GL02036

Electric field wave observations in the central plasma sheet show the correlated occurrence of broadband electrostatic noise and electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic emissions. A model is proposed in which the broadband emissions are electron acoustic waves generated by an observed low energy electron beam, and the cyclotron emissions are generated by the hot electron loss cone instability. The high degree of correlation between the two emissions is provided in the model by the presence of the cold electron beam population, which allows both of the plasma instabilities to grow.