Arbitrary amplitude ion-acoustic waves in a plasma with nonthermal electrons

We investigated the effect of the presence of a nonthermal electron population on the electrostatic nonlinear waves. We considered positively charged ions with two electron populations. Using the fluid equations for the unmagnetized case and the Sagdeev pseudo-potential approach the nonlinear ion-acoustic waves are studied. The cold electrons are in thermal equilibrium while the hot electron population follows a nonthermal distribution. Numerical investigation shows the importance of the presence of small amount of cold electrons that make it possible for the plasma to support nonlinear waves. We obtained the minimum cold electron density necessary to sustain these nonlinear waves. The relevant situation corresponds to the upper ionosphere where energetic electrons have been observed.     

Energetic electrons in impulsive solar flares: Radio diagnostics

Radio emissions during and outside solar flares are tracers of energetic electrons from the bottom of the corona to the interplanetary space. This review focusses on impulsive flares, where joint analyses of radio, hard X-ray and γ-ray observations proved to be powerful probes of the properties of accelerated electrons and of the sites in the corona where they are accelerated. Evidence of electron acceleration and transport in the corona from microwave imaging and decimetre wave spectroscopy is reviewed and compared, and recent work on the interpretation of microwave spectra in terms of energetic electron spectra is discussed. The two directions for future instrumentation are the extension to shorter wavelengths, with the aim of probing relativistic electrons, and solar dedicated spectral imaging from centimetric to metric waves to provide a unified view of the acceleration signatures that stem so far from different instruments with either spectroscopic or imaging capabilities.     

Escaping near-relativistic electron beams from the solar corona

Processes in the solar corona are prodigious accelerators of energetic ions, and electrons. The angular distribution, composition, and spectra of energetic particles observed near Earth gives information on the acceleration mechanisms. A class of energetic particle observations particularly useful in understanding the solar acceleration is the near-relativistic impulsive beam-like electron events. During five years of operation the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) has measured well over 400 electron events. Approximately 25% of these electron events are impulsive beam-like events that are released onto interplanetary field lines predominantly from western solar longitudes. We extend our initial 3 year study during the rise to solar maximum (Haggerty and Roelof, 2002; Simnett et al., 2002) to a five year statistical analysis of these beam-like energetic electron events in relationship to optical flares, microwave emission, soft X-ray emission, metric and decametric type-III radio bursts, and coronal mass ejections.     

倒V电子沉降通量能谱的理论计算

沿极光区磁力线大约在2000公里到8000公里的高度范围内,存在着一个等离子体湍流和大尺度平行电场的加速区。沿磁力线运动的等离子体片中的电子通过此加速区时,受到等离子体湍流和平行电场的共同作用,形成电子沉降的倒V结构。从一维准线性的动力学方程出发,导出了沉降电子通量的能谱方程,得出了电子通量能谱的理论公式。对等离子体湍流和平行电场对沉降电子能谱的影响作了分析和讨论。本文所提出的理论可以解释目前观测到的某些基本现象。      

Generation mechanism of the whistler-mode waves in the plasma sheet prior to magnetic reconnection

The whistler-mode waves and electron temperature anisotropy play a key role prior to and during magnetic reconnection. On August 21, 2002, the Cluster spacecrafts encountered a quasi-collisionless magnetic reconnection event when they crossed the plasma sheet. Prior to the southward turning of magnetospheric magnetic field and high speed ion flow, the whistler-mode waves and positive electron temperature anisotropy are simultaneously observed. Theoretic analysis shows that the electrons with positive temperature anisotropy can excite the whistler-mode waves via cyclotron resonances. Using the data of particles and magnetic field, we estimated the whistler-mode wave growth rate and the ratio of whistler-mode growth rate to wave frequency. They are 0.0016f_ce (Electron cyclotron frequency) and 0.0086f_ce, respectively. Therefore the whistler-mode waves can grow quickly in the current sheet. The combined observations of energetic electron beams and waves show that after the southward turning of magnetic field, energetic electrons in the reconnection process are accelerated by the whistler-mode waves.     

Solar flare electron acceleration: Comparing theories and observations

A popular scenario for electron acceleration in solar flares is transit-time damping of low-frequency MHD waves excited by reconnection and its outflows. The scenario requires several processes in sequence to yield energetic electrons of the observed large number. Until now there was very little evidence for this scenario, as it is even not clear where the flare energy is released. RHESSI measurements of bremsstrahlung by non-thermal flare electrons yield energy estimates as well as the position where the energy is deposited. Thus quantitative measurements can be put into the frame of the global magnetic field configuration as seen in coronal EUV line observations. We present RHESSI observations combined with TRACE data that suggest primary energy inputs mostly into electron acceleration and to a minor fraction into coronal heating and primary motion. The more sensitive and lower energy X-ray observations by RHESSI have found also small events (C class) at the time of the acceleration of electron beams exciting meter wave Type III bursts. However, not all RHESSI flares involve Type III radio emissions. The association of other decimeter radio emissions, such as narrowband spikes and pulsations, with X-rays is summarized in view of electron acceleration.     

多离子空间等离子体中快磁声波与粒子的回旋共振特性

快磁声波是空间等离子体中一种接近垂直传播的右旋极化电磁波,能够在等离子体层内外传播.快磁声波与带电粒子的回旋共振相互作用能够导致高能电子随机加速和投掷角扩散、能量质子投掷角扩散等,从而影响辐射带高能带电粒子的动态过程.分别基于完整的色散关系和高密度近似的色散关系,在不同空间等离子体条件下研究多离子空间等离子体中不同传播角的快磁声波色散曲线,并计算了快磁声波与H+,He+和O+离子的最小共振能量.结果表明,当传播角较小时,采用高密度近似与采用完整色散关系计算的离子最小共振能量没有太大差别.在中低密度中强磁场空间等离子体中,传播角≥ 88°时高密度近似色散关系会带来很大的误差,因此应利用完整色散关系计算最小共振能量.      

Power-law spectra of energetic electrons in solar flares from the maximum entropy and dimensional considerations

The maximum entropy formalism and dimensional analysis are used to derive a power-law spectrum of accelerated electrons in impulsive solar flares, where the particles can contain a significant fraction of the total flare energy. Entropy considerations are used to derive a power-law spectrum for a particle distribution characterised by its order of magnitude of energy. The derivation extends an earlier one-dimensional argument to the case of an isotropic three-dimensional particle distribution. Dimensional arguments employ the idea that the spectrum should reflect a balance between the processes of energy input into the corona and energy dissipation in solar flares. The governing parameters are suggested on theoretical grounds and shown to be consistent with solar flare observations. The flare electron flux, differential in the non-relativistic electron kinetic energy E, is predicted to scale as $E^{-3}$. This scaling is in agreement with RHESSI measurements of the hard X-ray flux that is generated by deka-keV electrons, accelerated in intense solar flares.     

Broadband electrostatic noise and low-frequency waves in the Earth’s magnetosphere

Broadband electrostatic noise (BEN) is commonly observed in different regions of the Earth’s magnetosphere, eg., auroral region, plasma sheet boundary layer, etc. The frequency of these BENs lies in the range from lower hybrid to the local electron plasma frequency and sometimes even higher. Spacecraft observations suggest that the high and low-frequency parts of BEN appear to be two different wave modes. There is a well established theory for the high-frequency part which can be explained by electrostatic solitary waves, however, low-frequency part is yet to be fully understood. The linear theory of low-frequency waves is developed in a four-component magnetized plasma consisting of three types of electrons, namely cold background electron, warm electrons, warm electron beam and ions. The electrostatic dispersion relation is solved, both analytically and numerically. For the parameters relevant to the auroral region, our analysis predict excitation of electron acoustic waves in the frequency range of 17 Hz to 2.6 kHz with transverse wavelengths in range of (1–70) km. The results from this model may be applied to explain some features of the low-frequency part of the broadband electrostatic noise observed in other regions of the magnetosphere.     

Relationship of solar flare accelerated particles to solar energetic particles (SEPs) observed in the interplanetary medium

Observations of hard X-ray (HXR)/γ-ray continuum and γ-ray lines produced by energetic electrons and ions, respectively, colliding with the solar atmosphere, have shown that large solar flares can accelerate ions up to many GeV and electrons up to hundreds of MeV. Solar energetic particles (SEPs) are observed by spacecraft near 1 AU and by ground-based instrumentation to extend up to similar energies as in large SEP events, but it appears that a different acceleration process, one associated with fast coronal mass ejections is responsible. Much weaker SEP events are observed that are generally rich in electrons, ³He, and heavy elements. The energetic particles in these events appear to be similar to those accelerated in flares. The Ramaty high energy solar spectroscopic imager (RHESSI) mission provides high-resolution spectroscopy and imaging of flare HXRs and γ-rays. Such observations can provide information on the location, energy spectra, and composition of the flare accelerated energetic particles at the Sun. Here, preliminary comparisons of the RHESSI observations with observations of both energetic electron and ion near 1 AU are reviewed, and the implications for the particle acceleration and escape processes are discussed.     

Kuafu and the studies of CME initiation

We first briefly review the current trend in the studies of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), then summarize some recent efforts in understanding the CME initiation. Emphasis has been put on the studies of Earth-directed CMEs whose associated surface activity and large scale magnetic source have been well identified. The data analysis by combining the MDI full disc magnetograms, vector magnetograms of active regions, EUV waves and dimmings, non-thermal radio sources, and the SOHO LASCO observations has shed new light in understanding the CME magnetism. However, the current studies seem to invoke new observations in a few aspects: (1) The observations which enable us to trace CMEs from the earliest associated surface activity to its initial acceleration and key development in the low corona in the height of 1–3 R; (2) The imaging spectroscopic observations which can be used to diagnose the early plasma outflow and the line-of-sight velocity in understanding the kinematics of CMEs; (3) The accurate timing from primary magnetic energy release, manifested by chromospheric activity, non-thermal radio bursts, and EUV, X-ray and γ-ray emissions, to the CME initiation, early acceleration and propagation, and the consequences in the interplanetary space and magnetosphere. The Kuafu Mission will meet the basic requirement for the new observations in CME initiation studies and serve as a monitor of space weather of the Sun–Earth system.     

Small amplitude ion acoustic solitons in a weakly magnetized plasma with anisotropic ion pressure and kappa distributed electrons

The Zakharov–Kuznetzov (ZK) equation is derived for nonlinear electrostatic waves in a weakly magnetized plasma in the presence of anisotropic ion pressure and superthermal electrons. The anisotropic ion pressure is defined using Chew–Goldberger–Low (CGL) while a generalized Lorentzian (kappa) distribution is assumed for the non-thermal electrons. The standard reductive perturbation method (RPM) is employed to derive the two dimensional ZK equation for the dynamics of obliquely propagating low frequency ion acoustic wave. The influence of spectral index (kappa) of non-thermal electron on the soliton is discussed in the presence of anisotropic ion pressure in plasmas. It is found that ion pressure anisotropy and superthermality of electrons affect both the width and amplitude of the solitary waves. On the other hand the magnetic field is found to alter the dispersive property of the plasma only, and hence the width of the solitons is affected while the amplitude of the solitary waves is independent of external magnetic field. The numerical results are also presented for illustrations.     

Double plasma resonance and fine spectral structure of solar radio bursts

The process of generation of upper-hybrid waves by electron beam with loss-cone distribution is considered. The necessary conditions of the double plasma resonance effect, which is considered to be one of the most probable formation mechanisms of the zebra patterns in the spectra of solar radio emission, are investigated. It is shown that this effect considerably affects excitation of waves by electrons with power-law energetic spectrum. Interpretation of observations and diagnostics of plasma for the April 21, 2002 event are performed. It is found that the zebra stripes consist of separate short pulses; there is a good correlation between the separate stripes (with a certain temporal shift). The conclusion about the impulsive mode of injection of energetic particles into the coronal loop is made.     

Solitary and periodic waves in magneto–rotating plasmas: Effect of the Kappa–Cairns distributed electrons

The nonlinear propagation of ion–acoustic (IA) waves in a magneto–rotating plasma is studied by considering the Kappa-Cairns electron distribution. Employing the perturbation scheme, Korteweg–de Vries equation is derived. It is seen that both positive and negative potential solitons can be supported in the present plasma model. The numerical results reveal that the Kappa-Cairns distributed electrons modify features of the electrostatic waves significantly. The effects of non–thermal parameters, plasma rotation frequency, ion temperature, and the wave propagation angle on electrostatic solitary wave structures are also discussed here. It is found that the plasma parameters considerably influence the propagation of IA waves in rotating plasmas. Furthermore, using the bifurcation theory of planar dynamical systems to the K-dV equation, we have presented the existence of solitary and periodic traveling waves. Our study may be helpful to understand the behavior of ion–acoustic wave in the rotating plasma.     

A question raised from the observation of dynamic cusp formation: When and where does particle acceleration occur?

We present observations of a C9.4 flare on 2002 June 2 in EUV (TRACE) and X-rays (RHESSI). The multiwavelength data reveal: (1) the involvement of a quadrupole magnetic configuration; (2) loop expansion and ribbon motion in the pre-impulsive phase; (3) gradual formation of a new compact loop with a long cusp at the top during the impulsive phase of the flare; (4) appearance of a large, twisted loop above the cusp expanding outward immediately after the hard X-ray peak; and (5) X-ray emission observed only from the new compact loop and the cusp. In particular, the gradual formation of an EUV cusp feature is very clear. The observations also reveal the timing of the cusp formation and particle acceleration: most of the impulsive hard X-rays (>25 keV) were emitted before the cusp was seen. This suggests that fast reconnection occurred during the restructuring of the magnetic configuration, resulting in more efficient particle acceleration, while the reconnection slowed after the cusp was completely formed and the magnetic geometry was stabilized. This observation is consistent with the observations obtained with Yohkoh/Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) that soft X-ray cusp structures only appear after the major impulsive energy release in solar flares. These observations have important implications for the modeling of magnetic reconnection and particle acceleration.     

哨声模合声波与地球同步轨道高能电子通量增强事件事例研究

局部加速机制是磁暴期间地球外辐射带高能电子通量增强事件发生的重要原 因. 此加速机制需要两个基本条件, 一是存在种子电子, 二是存在能与种子 电子产生共振的加速波动, 包括哨声模合声波. 通过对2004-2006年 Pi1地磁脉动持续时间与种子电子通量的相关性分析, 更明确提出Pi1地磁脉 动的持续时间可以作为种子电子通量的指示剂. 通过对三个磁暴事例地球同 步轨道的种子电子通量、高能电子通量及哨声模合声波变化情况的分析, 发 现在高能电子通量较强的事例中, 均观测到较高的种子电子通量和较强的 哨声模合声波, 这在一定程度上验证了哨声模合声波对种子电子的回旋加速 机制, 且合声波强度与高能电子通量有正的相关性.      

Nonlinear electron-acoustic rogue waves in electron-beam plasma system with non-thermal hot electrons

The properties of nonlinear electron-acoustic rogue waves have been investigated in an unmagnetized collisionless four-component plasma system consisting of a cold electron fluid, non-thermal hot electrons obeying a non-thermal distribution, an electron beam and stationary ions. It is found that the basic set of fluid equations is reduced to a nonlinear Schrodinger equation. The dependence of rogue wave profiles on the electron beam and energetic population parameter are discussed. The results of the present investigation may be applicable in auroral zone plasma.     

New aspects of whistler waves driven by an electron beam studied by a 3-D electromagnetic code

We have restudied electron beam driven whistler waves with a 3-D electromagnetic particle code. In the initialisation of the beam-plasma system, “quiet start” conditions were approached by including the poloidal magnetic field due to the current carried by beam electrons streaming along a background magnetic field. The simulation results show electromagnetic whistler wave emissions and electrostatic beam modes like those observed in the Spacelab 2 electron beam experiment. It has been suggested in the past that the spatial bunching of beam electrons associated with the beam mode may directly generate whistler waves. However, the simulation results indicate several inconsistencies with this picture: (1) the parallel (to the background magnetic field) wavelength of the whistler wave is longer than that of the beam instability, (2) the parallel phase velocity of the whistler wave is smaller than that of the beam mode, and (3) whistler waves continue to be generated even after the beam mode space charge modulation looses its coherence. The complex structure of the whistler waves in the vicinity of the beam suggest that the transverse motion (gyration) of the beam and background electrons is involved in the generation of the whistler waves.     

左旋寻常的极光千米波与辐射带高能电子相互作用的参数化研究

参数化研究了在L=4.5外辐射带区域左旋寻常（Left-hand Ordinary mode, L-O模）的极光千米波与高能电子的相互作用，定量计算了左旋寻常的极光千米波在不同峰值频率、传播角分布和纬度分布条件下的弹跳平均投掷角扩散系数、动量扩散系数和投掷角–动量交叉扩散系数。计算结果表明，动量扩散系数一般比投掷角扩散系数大100倍左右，说明动量扩散在L-O模与电子间的相互作用中起主导作用。随着传播角范围的改变，扩散系数均未发生明显变化，这说明L-O模与电子相互作用的扩散系数对传播角范围的依赖性很小。此外，扩散系数会因为L-O模纬度分布的改变而发生剧烈变化，该结果与之前得到的纬度分布对右旋奇异的极光千米波的影响是一致的。通过参数化研究结果表明，适当条件下，L-O模可能会显著影响外辐射带高能电子的动力学过程。      

太阳风里高能电子自发辐射的Langmuir波

本文讨论太阳风里太阳耀班高能电子产生的Langmuir波的自发辐射。理论估计得出,在时间尺度γ_km-1内,Langmuir波自发辐射的电场幅值约为10-3-10-2mV/m(依赖于高能电子速度分布的具体形式),这里γ_km为在波数k处的峰增长率。此理论结果比飞船在太阳风里的观测值低2-3个数量级。因此认为,太阳风里自发辐射产生的Langmuir波辐射是可以忽略的。