Statistical properties of low‐frequency plasmaspheric hiss. Issue 8 (14th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Malaspina, David M.; Jaynes, Allison N.; Hospodarsky, George; Bortnik, Jacob; Ergun, Robert E.; Wygant, John
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 122:Issue 8(2017)
• Page Start: 8340
• Page End: 8352
• Publication Date: 2017-08-14
• Subjects: plasmaspheric hiss -- inner magnetosphere -- plasma waves -- wave statistics -- Van Allen Probes; Magnetospheric physics -- Periodicals; Space environment -- Periodicals; Cosmic physics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Atmospheres -- Periodicals; Heliosphere (Astrophysics) -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 523.01
• DOI: 10.1002/2017JA024328
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9380

Abstract

Abstract: Plasmaspheric hiss is an important wave mode for the dynamics of inner terrestrial magnetosphere plasma populations. It acts to scatter high‐energy electrons out of trapped orbits about Earth and into the atmosphere, defining the inner edge of the radiation belts over a range of energies. A low‐frequency component of hiss was recently identified and is important for its ability to interact with higher‐energy electrons compared to typically considered hiss frequencies. This study compares the statistical properties of low‐ and high‐frequency plasmaspheric hiss in the terrestrial magnetosphere, demonstrating that they are statistically distinct wave populations. Low‐frequency hiss shows different behavior in frequency space, different spatial localization (in magnetic local time and radial distance), and different amplitude distributions compared to high‐frequency hiss. The observed statistical properties of low‐frequency hiss are found to be consistent with recently developed theories for low‐frequency hiss generation. The results presented here suggest that careful consideration of low‐frequency hiss properties can be important for accurate inclusion of this wave population in predictive models of inner magnetosphere plasma dynamics. Key Points: Low‐ and high‐frequency plasmaspheric hiss are found to be statistically distinct wave populations Low‐ and high‐frequency hiss wave power have different spatial and frequency distributions Proper statistical treatment of low‐frequency hiss is important for predictive models of particle loss by hiss in the inner magnetosphere