Experimental determination of whistler wave dispersion relation in the solar wind
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Published version
Accepted version
Author(s)
Stansby, D
Horbury, TS
Chen, CHK
Matteini, L
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The origins and properties of large-amplitude whistler wavepackets in the solar wind are still unclear. In this Letter, we utilize single spacecraft electric and magnetic field waveform measurements from the ARTEMIS mission to calculate the plasma frame frequency and wavevector of individual wavepackets over multiple intervals. This allows direct comparison of experimental measurements with theoretical dispersion relations to identify the observed waves as whistler waves. The whistlers are right-hand circularly polarized, travel anti-sunward, and are aligned with the background magnetic field. Their dispersion is strongly affected by the local electron parallel beta in agreement with linear theory. The properties measured are consistent with the electron heat flux instability acting in the solar wind to generate these waves.
Date Issued
2016-09-21
Date Acceptance
2016-09-09
Citation
Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2016, 829 (1)
ISSN
2041-8213
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Journal / Book Title
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume
829
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Grant Number
ST/N000692/1
Subjects
physics.space-ph
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
L16