Testing the Organization of Whistler-mode Chorus Wave Properties by Plasmapause Location | CU Experts

Lower-band whistler-mode chorus waves are important to the dynamics of; Earth’s radiation belts, playing a key role in accelerating seed; population electrons (100’s of keV) to relativistic ($>$; 1 MeV) energies, and in scattering electrons such that they precipitate; into the atmosphere. When constructing and using statistical models of; lower-band whistler-mode chorus wave power, it is commonly assumed that; wave power is spatially distributed with respect to magnetic L-shell. At; the same time, these waves are known to drop in power at the; plasmapause, a cold plasma boundary which is dynamic in time and space; relative to L-shell. This study organizes wave power and propagation; direction data with respect to distance from the plasmapause location to; evaluate what role the location of the plasmapause may play in defining; the spatial distribution of lower band whistler-mode chorus wave power.; It is found that characteristics of the statistical spatial distribution; of equatorial lower band whistler mode chorus are determined by L-shell,; and are largely independent of plasmapause location. The primary; physical importance of the plasmapause is to act as an Earthward; boundary to lower band whistler mode chorus wave activity. This behavior; is consistent with an equatorial lower band whistler mode chorus wave; power spatial distribution that follows the L-shell organization of the; particles driving wave growth.

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