Whistler wave generation by electron temperature anisotropy during magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause

Jongsoo Yoo, Shan Wang, Evan Yerger, J. Jara-Almonte, Hantao Ji, Masaaki Yamada, Li Jen Chen, William Fox, Aaron Goodman, Andrew Alt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two magnetopause reconnection events of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission with whistler wave activity are presented. The whistler mode around half of the electron cyclotron frequency is excited near the magnetospheric separatrix. In both events, there are positive correlations between the whistler wave and the lower hybrid drift instability (LHDI) activities, indicating a possible role of LHDI in the whistler wave generation. A sudden change in the electron pitch angle distribution (PAD) function of energetic electrons is observed right after intense LHDI activity. This change in the PAD leads to temperature anisotropy in energetic electrons which is responsible for the whistler wave excitation. The measured dispersion relation demonstrates that the whistler wave propagates toward the X line nearly parallel to the magnetic field line. Finally, a linear analysis with the measured distribution function verifies that the whistler mode is excited by the temperature anisotropy in energetic electrons.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number052902
JournalPhysics of Plasmas
Volume26
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Whistler wave generation by electron temperature anisotropy during magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this