Articles | Volume 17, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-999-0674-4
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-999-0674-4
31 May 1999
31 May 1999

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

O. Saka, O. Watanabe, K. Okada, and D. N. Baker

Abstract. An intensification 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 fluxgate 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=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 field-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)

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