Yuto Katoh

Computer simulation of chorus wave generation in the Earth's inner magnetosphere

A self-consistent particle simulation with a dipole magnetic field model is carried out, reproducing chorus emissions with rising tones successfully. We assume energetic electrons forming a highly anisotropic velocity distribution in the equatorial region. No initial wave is assumed except for electromagnetic thermal noise induced by the energetic electrons. In the early stage of the simulation, coherent whistler-mode waves are generated from the equator through an instability driven by the temperature anisotropy of the energetic electrons. During the propagation of the whistler-mode waves, we find formation of a narrowband emission with negative frequency gradient (NEWNFG) in the spatial distribution of the frequency spectrum in the simulation system. The trailing edge of NEWNFG is continuously created at increasing frequencies in the region close to the equator. Observed at a fixed point, the NEWNFG shows a frequency variation of a typical chorus emission.

The Energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) Project

The Energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) project for solar cycle 24 will explore how relativistic electrons in the radiation belts are generated during space storms. This geospace exploration project consists of three research teams: the ERG satellite observation team, the ground-based network observation team, and the integrated data analysis/simulation team. Satellite observation will provide in situ measurements of features such as the plasma distribution function, electric and magnetic fields, and plasma waves, whereas remote sensing by ground-based observations using, for example, HF radars, magnetometers, optical instruments, and radio wave receivers will provide the global state of the geospace. Various kinds of data will be integrated and compared with numerical simulations for quantitative understanding. Such a synergetic approach is essential for comprehensive understanding of relativistic electron generation/loss processes through crossenergy and cross-regional coupling in which different plasma populations and regions are dynamically coupled with each other. In addition, the ERG satellite will utilize a new and innovative measurement technique for wave-particle interactions that can directly measure the energy exchange process between particles and plasma waves. In this paper, we briefly review some of the profound problems regarding relativistic electron accelerations and losses that will be solved by the ERG project, and we provide an overview of the project.

Relation between fine structure of energy spectra for pulsating aurora electrons and frequency spectra of whistler mode chorus waves

We investigate the origin of the fine structure of the energy spectrum of precipitating electrons for the pulsating aurora (PsA) observed by the low-altitude Reimei satellite. The Reimei satellite achieved simultaneous observations of the optical images and precipitating electrons of the PsA from satellite altitude (~620 km) with resolution of 40 ms. The main modulation of precipitation, with a few seconds, and the internal modulations, with a few hertz, that are embedded inside the main modulations are identified above ~3 keV. Moreover, stable precipitations at ~1 keV are found for the PsA. A “precipitation gap” is discovered between two energy bands. We identify the origin of the fine structure of the energy spectrum for the precipitating electrons using the computer simulation on the wave-particle interaction between electrons and chorus waves. The lower band chorus (LBC) bursts cause the main modulation of energetic electrons, and the generation and collapse of the LBC bursts determines on-off switching of the PsA. A train of rising tone elements embedded in the LBC bursts drives the internal modulations. A close set of upper band chorus (UBC) waves causes the stable precipitations at ~1 keV. We show that a wave power gap around the half gyrofrequency at the equatorial plane in the magnetosphere between LBC and UBC reduces the loss rate of electrons at the intermediate energy range, forming a gap of precipitating electrons in the ionosphere.

Multiscale temporal variations of pulsating auroras: On‐off pulsation and a few Hz modulation

A statistical study on the cross-scale property on the temporal variations of pulsating aurora intensity was conducted on 53 events observed at the Poker Flat Research Range during the period from 1 December 2011 to 1 March 2012. The observed modulation frequency ranged from 1.5 to 3.3 Hz, and strong modulations were not seen in the frequency range higher than about 3 Hz. This suggests that the time of flight of electrons has a time-smoothing effect on the more rapid variations above 3 Hz. Furthermore, the frequency of modulation showed relatively strong correlation to auroral intensity (correlation coefficient of 0.58), and it can be explained with nonlinear wave growth theory, in which the modulation frequency increases with the wave amplitude of the whistler mode chorus. In contrast, the on-off pulsations showed no significant correlations with auroral intensity. This result probably implies that several different plasma processes with different time scales from nonlinear wave growth should be taken into account when determining the on-off periods. In particular, we suggest that long-term variations in the cold plasma density play a dominant role in controlling the conditions of wave-particle interactions that have temporal scale of the on-off pulsation periods.

A new instrument for the study of wave-particle interactions in space : One-chip Wave-Particle Interaction Analyzer

Wave-particle interactions in a collisionless plasma have been analyzed in several past space science missions but direct and quantitative measurement of the interactions has not been conducted. We here introduce the Wave-Particle Interaction Analyzer (WPIA) to observe wave-particle interactions directly by calculating the inner product between the electric field of plasma waves and of plasma particles. The WPIA has four fundamental functions: waveform calibration, coordinate transformation, time correction, and interaction calculation. We demonstrate the feasibility of One-chip WPIA (O-WPIA) using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) as a test model for future science missions. The O-WPIA is capable of real-time processing with low power consumption. We validate the performance of the O-WPIA including determination of errors in the calibration and power consumption.

Geospace exploration project ERG

The Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) project explores the acceleration, transport, and loss of relativistic electrons in the radiation belts and the dynamics for geospace storms. This project consists of three research teams for satellite observation, ground-based network observation, and integrated data analysis/simulation. This synergetic approach is essential for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the relativistic electron generation/loss processes of the radiation belts as well as geospace storms through cross-energy/cross-regional couplings, in which different plasma/particle populations and regions are strongly coupled with each other. This paper gives an overview of the ERG project and presents the initial results from the ERG (Arase) satellite.

Polarization observations of 4fce auroral roar emissions

We report on the first polarization measurement of auroral roar emissions near 4 times the ionospheric electron cyclotron frequency (4fce). A ground-based passive receiver that uses orthogonal loop antennas, installed in Iceland, revealed the sense of polarization of 11 events of 4fce roar emissions. In 9 of 11 cases, 4fce roar was left-handed elliptically polarized, namely, O-mode waves. The O-mode 4fce roar was observed under both sunlit and dark ionospheric conditions during geomagnetic storms. For O-mode 4fce roar generation, satisfaction of the matching condition where upper hybrid frequency (fUH) equals 4fce requires a high-density, F region ionosphere, even during darkness, which might be attributed to auroral precipitation or tongue of ionization. In two cases, right-handed elliptically polarized 4fce roar was observed during darkness hours and the main phase of a geomagnetic storm. This polarization indicates that nonlinear coupling of two upper hybrid waves may also work to generate X-mode 4fce roar.

Simulation of mode conversion from UHR-mode wave to LO-mode wave in an inhomogeneous plasma with different wave normal angles

We have investigated a linear mode conversion process among UHR-mode, Z-mode, and LO-mode waves by a computer simulation solving Maxwell’s equations and the motion of a cold electron fluid. The characteristics of the wave coupling process occurring in the cold magnetized plasma were examined in detail for the case of an inhomogeneity of plasma density lying perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field. The dependence of the conversion efficiency on the incident wave normal angle, wave frequency, background plasma frequency, and steepness of density gradient was studied. The results show that an efficient mode conversion occurred in the conversion process from Z-mode to LO-mode waves rather than from the coupling between UHR-mode to LO-mode waves. They also show that the highest conversion efficiency was obtained under the specific condition of the wave normal angle for the incident waves. In the specific case of such critical wave normal angles, we found that perpendicular components of refractive indexes became zero at the site of mode conversion, which is consistent with previously published results. We also show that the range of the critical normal angle varied depending on both the plasma frequency and the wave frequency. The simulation results also reveal that, when the steepness of the density gradient was taken into consideration, efficient mode conversion could be expected even in the case of the mismatch of the refractive indexes preventing the close coupling of plasma waves.

Simulation study on nonlinear frequency shift of narrow band whistler-mode waves in a homogeneous magnetic field

We study frequency variation of a coherent whistler-mode wave in a homogeneous magnetic field by a selfconsistent simulation model. Simulation results show that an injected whistler-mode wave packet grows due to an instability driven by temperature anisotropy and the amplified wave packet triggers emissions with frequency shift during its propagation. We clarify that the resonant currents JE and JB due to the nonlinear wave-particle interaction play significant roles in both wave growth and frequency variation. Based on the simulation results, we show that the range of the frequency shift in a homogeneous system is quantitatively estimated by the trapping frequency VT of trapped electrons; in a case that the original frequency of the wave packet is 0.62Ωe and VT=4.05 × 10−2c, the lower and upper frequencies are estimated to be 0.565Ωe and 0.685Ωe, respectively. The results of the present study reveal that the role of nonlinear trapping is significant in the elementary process of VLF triggered emissions in the equatorial region of the magnetosphere.

Evaluation of waveform data processing in Wave-Particle Interaction Analyzer

The Wave-Particle Interaction Analyzer (WPIA) is a software function installed on the Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) satellite. The WPIA directly measures the quantity of energy transfer between whistler-mode chorus waves and resonant energetic electrons by using plasma wave vectors and velocity vectors of plasma particles. The phase differences of the WPIA require accurate phase angles of waves and electrons in order to statistically evaluate the significance of the quantity of energy transfer. We propose a technical method for efficient waveform processing in order to conduct the WPIA measurement precisely. In the WPIA measurement, the various waves detected by the onboard instrument appear as noise in the calculation of the quantity of energy transfer for whistler-mode chorus waves. The characteristic frequency variation of the chorus waves makes waveform processing difficult. A chorus waveform is used for the WPIA processing through passband filtering by selecting appropriate data processing length and frequency resolution. We implement overlapping processing of wave data in order to reduce the induced error of the wave phase. The results of waveform processing indicate that the phase errors are successfully reduced and statistical fluctuations are suppressed. The proposed waveform processing method is a necessary and applicative processing for the calculations of the WPIA in the ERG mission.