Kinetic Theories of Ultra-Low Frequency and Current-Sheet Instabilities in Magnetospheric Plasmas

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This project will examine ultra-low frequency (ULF) electromagnetic oscillations that are generated by energetic ions in Earth's magnetosphere. The project will utilize gyrokinetic simulations. There are several tasks involved. The first is to develop a gyro-kinetic-magnetohydrodynamic simulation code. The code will make it possible to study the internal excitations of ULF waves in a realistic plasma configuration. The results from the simulations will then be used to develop analytical theories of the waves and their stability properties. The project will examine the couplings of the energetic ions to the waves that result from the curvature of dipole-like magnetic field lines, the coupling between compressional wave modes and mirror wave modes, and the coupling of the waves to Alfvén balloon modes. The simulation and theory results will be compared with satellite measurements of ULF waves. The results of the research will have applications beyond enhancing our understanding of Earth's magnetosphere, as they will have impacts on our understanding of laboratory experiments as well. Much of the research will be carried out by a graduate student.