Visualization of regions of electromagnetic wave-plasma interactions surrounding the Earth

Visualization of regions of electromagnetic wave-plasma interactions surrounding the Earth
Schematic illustration of coordinated observation using the scientific satellite Arase and PWING, a ground-based observation network. Through detailed observation by the scientific satellite Arase in the magnetosphere and observation of aurorae along geomagnetic field lines from the ground, it is possible to investigate and capture the spatial distribution of generation regions of wave-particle interactions. Credit: (c) JAXA

Researchers have investigated wave-particle interactions between energetic electrons and chorus waves evolving in the space surrounding the Earth using the scientific satellite Arase and, simultaneously, transient auroral flashes by the ground-based global observation network. The investigation visualized asymmetric spatial development of wave-particle interaction regions on the order of sub-seconds. This is expected to contribute to the safe and secure exploration of space by establishing hazard maps of the space electromagnetic environment.

It is known that in the space surrounding the Earth (the space up to the geostationary orbit altitude, called Geospace), there are areas of trapped charged particles called Van Allen belts that may affect commercial services, and there is concern that astronauts could be exposed to these charged particles, for example, in a manned mission to the moon. The high-energy electrons in the Earth's Van Allen belts are known to be generated by resonant interactions of electromagnetic waves evolving in the with ; this phenomenon is called a chorus wave-particle interaction.

Chorus wave-particle interactions accelerate electrons to relativistic energies and also precipitate energetic electrons from the magnetosphere into the Earth's atmosphere along geomagnetic field lines to cause special types of auroras. In addition, energetic electrons precipitate into the Earth's atmosphere along geomagnetic field lines, not only generating auroras but changing the atmospheric composition. Thus, investigation of the magnetosphere, where the chorus wave-particle interactions are generated, should give clues to the electromagnetic environment in the magnetosphere and of its effects on the Earth's atmosphere. This field has received international attention for more than 50 years. However, since a single packet of chorus waves lasts for less than a second, and since it is almost impossible to investigate the vast magnetosphere using a limited number of scientific satellites, the spatial development, especially, of the magnetosphere has been poorly understood.

Visualization of regions of electromagnetic wave-plasma interactions surrounding the Earth
One-to-one correspondence of packets of chorus waves with a duration of hundreds of millisecond observed by the scientific satellite Arase and a flash aurora observed at Gakona, Alaska, USA. Credit: Kanazawa University

Using the scientific satellite Arase, which investigates dynamics of Van Allen belts as well as geospace storms, the team simultaneously captured not only chorus wave packets in the magnetosphere, but also transient auroral flashes of several hundred milliseconds about 30,000 kilometers distant from Arase, generated by chorus wave-particle interactions. In order to simultaneously capture aurorae and chorus wave-particle interactions, which are related to each other, a scientific satellite is required in an appropriate orbit as well as an observation network on the ground that realizes conjugate observations with the satellite.

The research team developed a world-leading electromagnetic wave measurement system which was aboard the Arase satellite , and established PWING (study of dynamical variation of Particles and Waves in the INner magnetosphere using Ground-based network observations) covering the entire Earth (but mainly in the northern hemisphere) longitudinally along almost the same geomagnetic latitude. The research team traveled to each PWING international ground base to install new high-sensitivity cameras and other instruments (see"Observation News" in PWING web page). Thus, it was possible to capture details of chorus waves by the Arase satellite as well as to capture related aurorae from any longitude and at any time (Figure 1). This enabled simultaneous observations with high time resolution (10 milliseconds).

A flash aurora observed at Gakona, Alaska, one of the PWING international bases, and which is connected with the Arase satellite along the geomagnetic field line, showed spatial and intensity variations of the order of hundreds of milliseconds, which corresponded with those of chorus waves in the magnetosphere (Figure 2). This observation revealed that a flash aurora could become a display showing spatial developments of wave-particle interaction regions accompanying .

Intensity and spatial changes of aurorae captured on the ground have visualized details of wave-particle interaction regions, which could not be captured by point observations using a scientific satellite. The observation has confirmed the geomagnetic north-south asymmetry for the first time. The observed variations indicate not only spatial evolutions along geomagnetic field lines by effective resonance of electromagnetic waves and electrons (observable as time-dependent changes of auroral intensity) but also evolutions across geomagnetic field lines (observable as spatial changes of auroral morphology). The observation also suggests rapid precipitation, in hundreds of milliseconds, of energetic electrons into the atmosphere, which may bring about changes of the atmospheric composition.

Visualization of regions of electromagnetic wave-plasma interactions surrounding the Earth
An intensity change of 1 pixel indicates temporal change along a geomagnetic field line, and morphology change indicates spatial change across the geomagnetic field line. Credit: Kanazawa University

The present study reports previously unknown spatial developments of wave-particle interaction regions across geomagnetic field lines. It presents analyses using a scientific satellite and a ground observation network. In the future, more characteristics of a general nature should be revealed by analyzing a large number of flash auroras. However, there might be difficulties in analyzing the very big data sets by conventional visual observation, since it is now found that such special aurorae showing details of spatial developments of wave-particle interaction regions have a duration of only hundreds of milliseconds.

Nonetheless, the research team resolved this problem using artificial intelligence (AI). With AI technology, it should be possible to make hazard maps of the electromagnetic environment of the magnetosphere, which will contribute to safe and secure space exploration. It is also known that chorus interactions take place on other magnetized planets. The scientific mission Mio was launched in 2018 to study the magnetic field of Mercury. It is equipped with a copy of the electromagnetic wave measurement system developed by the team.

More information: Mitsunori Ozaki et al, Visualization of rapid electron precipitation via chorus element wave–particle interactions, Nature Communications (2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07996-z

Journal information: Nature Communications

Citation: Visualization of regions of electromagnetic wave-plasma interactions surrounding the Earth (2019, February 5) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2019-02-visualization-regions-electromagnetic-wave-plasma-interactions.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Scientists directly observe electron dynamics of the Northern Lights

133 shares

Feedback to editors