Electron Phase-Space Holes in the Auroral Ionosphere and Magnetosphere: Simulations and Theory

快速极光快照（FAST）卫星表明，电离层和磁层中能量最大的波现象之一是以电子相空间密度中的空穴为特征的结构。 这个项目将利用一个新的三维动力学粒子模拟代码来研究这些相空间空穴的基本物理。 将调查五个主要问题：（1）这些空穴形成的条件是什么，（2）为什么模拟表明结构是不稳定的，这一结果对FAST卫星测量的意义是什么，（3）空穴如何产生哨声波，（4）电子空穴如何与离子相互作用，以及（5）这些洞在极光电喷流的大规模电动力学中发挥什么作用（如果有的话）。

The Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST) satellite has shown that one of the most energetic wave phenomena in the ionosphere and magnetosphere are structures characterized by holes in the phase-space density of electrons. This project will utilize a new three-dimensional kinetic particle simulation code to investigate the fundamental physics of these phase space holes. Five major questions will be investigated: (1) What are the conditions under which these holes are formed, (2) why do simulations indicate that the structures are unstable and what is the implication of this result to the FAST satellite measurements, (3) how do the holes generate whistler waves, (4) how do the electron holes interact with the ions, and (5) what role (if any) do these holes play in the large scale electrodynamics of the auroral electrojet.