Ion energization mechanisms at 1700 km in the auroral region

• Observations obtained by the Freja satellite at altitudes around 1700 km in the high-latitude magnetosphere are used to study ion energization perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. Investigations of ions, electrons, plasma densities, electric and magnetic wave fields, and field-aligned currents are used to study O+ heating mechanisms. Three ion heating events are studied in detail, and 20 events are used in a detailed statistical study. More than 200 events are classified as belonging to one of four major types of ion heating and are ordered as a function of magnetic local time. The most common types of ion heating are associated with broadband low-frequency electric wave fields occurring at all local times. These waves cover frequencies from below one up to several hundred hertz and correspond to the most intense O+ energization. Heating by these waves at frequencies of the order of the O+ gyrofrequency at 25 Hz seems to be the important energization mechanism, causing O+ ion mean energies up to hundreds of eV. The broadband waves are associated with Alfven waves with frequencies up to at least a few hertz and with field-aligned currents. Other types of O+ energization events are less common. During these events the ions are heated by waves near the lower hybrid frequency or near half the proton gyrofrequency. These waves are generated by auroral electrons or in a few cases by precipitating ions.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Fusion, plasma och rymdfysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics (hsv//eng)

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art (subject category)