Characteristics of Langmuir electric field waveforms and power spectra exhibiting nonlinear behavior in Earth's foreshock

K Sigsbee; C. A Kletzing; J. S Pickett; D. A Gurnett; S. J Schwartz; B Lefebvre; E Lucek; A. N Fazakerley; H Kucharek

doi:10.1029/2009JA014948

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Characteristics of Langmuir electric field waveforms and power spectra exhibiting nonlinear behavior in Earth's foreshock

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Characteristics of Langmuir electric field waveforms and power spectra exhibiting nonlinear behavior in Earth's foreshock

K Sigsbee, C. A Kletzing, J. S Pickett, D. A Gurnett, S. J Schwartz, B Lefebvre, E Lucek, A. N Fazakerley and H Kucharek

Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol.115(A10), A10251

10/2010

DOI: 10.1029/2009JA014948

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Abstract

Langmuir wave characteristics in the Earth's foreshock were examined to identify possible nonlinear wave behavior for two case studies with data from the Cluster Wideband Data Plasma Wave Receiver. The occurrence rates of four types of power spectra near the foreshock edge were determined: (1) spectra with power at the local plasma frequency fpe only, (2) spectra with power at fpe and 2fpe, (3) spectra with double peaks near fpe, and (4) spectra with double peaks near fpe and peaks at low frequencies indicative of ion acoustic waves. For electric field waveform amplitudes between 0.1 and 22.0 mV/m, most power spectra fell into the fpe only and double‐peaked categories. The maximum Langmuir wave amplitudes and bump‐on‐tail reduced electron distribution functions from Cluster PEACE data were more consistent with saturation of wave growth by electrostatic decay than modulational instabilities. However, few spectra had the double peaks near fpe and ion acoustic waves indicative of electrostatic decay, suggesting other processes may also be at work. For amplitudes greater than 22.0 mV/m, most power spectra fell into the fpe and 2fpe category, but many of the harmonics were too weak to be clearly distinguished from harmonics caused by instrumental effects.

bow shock

electron beams

electrostatic decay

foreshock

Langmuir waves

Modulational instability

Details

Title: Subtitle: Characteristics of Langmuir electric field waveforms and power spectra exhibiting nonlinear behavior in Earth's foreshock
Creators: K Sigsbee - University of Iowa
C. A Kletzing - University of Iowa
J. S Pickett - University of Iowa
D. A Gurnett - University of Iowa
S. J Schwartz - Imperial College London
B Lefebvre - University of New Hampshire
E Lucek - Imperial College London
A. N Fazakerley - Mullard Space Science Laboratory Dorking United Kingdom
H Kucharek - University of New Hampshire
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol.115(A10), A10251
DOI: 10.1029/2009JA014948
ISSN: 0148-0227
eISSN: 2156-2202
Number of pages: 17
Language: English
Date published: 10/2010
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984199669202771

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