HR: 11:05h
AN: SM22A-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Wave Propagation Characteristics at the Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer
AU: * Lysak, R L
EM: bob@aurora.space.umn.edu
AF: University of Minnesota, Tate Lab of Physics 116 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55406 United States
AU: Song, Y
EM: yan@aurora.space.umn.edu
AF: University of Minnesota, Tate Lab of Physics 116 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55406 United States
AU: Wygant, J R
EM: wygant@belka.space.umn.edu
AF: University of Minnesota, Tate Lab of Physics 116 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55406 United States
AB: Observations from Polar and Cluster have revealed large-amplitude Alfv\'{e}n waves propagating at the plasma sheet boundary layer during substorms. On the other hand, theories of reconnection have suggested that whistler waves are involved in the reconnection process. To assess the similarities and differences between these wave modes, a kinetic theory of these modes has been developed, including both electron and ion kinetic effects in the dispersion of these waves. Using this model, the observed characteristics of the various wave modes, such as the ratio between electric and magnetic fields, will be determined and compared with observations. These waves occur in the presence of strong gradients across the magnetic field in the boundary layer. The effects of phase mixing, non-local wave structure in the presence of the gradient and the possible excitation of drift-Alfv\'{e}n waves will be assessed.
DE: 2712 Electric fields (2411)
DE: 2748 Magnetotail boundary layers
DE: 2764 Plasma sheet
DE: 2772 Plasma waves and instabilities
SC: SPA-Magnetospheric Physics [SM]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting