A slow mode wave as a possible source of Pi 2 and associated particle precipitation: a case study

• Main Authors: O. Saka, O. Watanabe, K. Okada, D. N. Baker
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Syowa Station; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.371.7529; http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/31/65/98/PDF/angeo-17-674-1999.pdf

Abstract. An intensi®cation of auroral luminosity referred to as an auroral break-up often accompanies the onset of geomagnetic pulsation (Pi 2) at the dip-equator. One such auroral break-up occurred at 2239 UT on 16 June, 1986, being accompanied by weak substorm activity (AE 50 nT) which was recorded in all-sky image of Syowa Station, Antarctica (66.2°S, 71.8°E in geomagnetic coordinates). The associated Pi 2 magnetic pulsation was detected by a ¯uxgate magnetometer in the afternoon sector at the dip-equator (Huancayo, Peru; 1.44°N, 355.9 ° in geomagnetic coordinates; 12.1°S, 75.2°W in geographic coordinates; L ˆ 1:00). In spite of the large separation of the two stations in longitude and latitude, the auroral break-up and subsequent luminosity modulation were seen to be correlated with the wave form of the ground Pi 2 pulsation. This occurred in such a way that the luminosity maximum was seen to occur at the phase of maximum amplitudes of Pi 2 wave form. We argue that the observed correlation could be interpreted as indicating a Pi 2-modulation of a ®eld-aligned acceleration of the low energy electrons that may occur near the equator of the midnight magnetosphere. Key words. Magnetospheric physics (auroral phenomena; energetic particles, precipitating; MHD waves and instabilities)