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Xue, Z. X., Yuan, Z. G., Yu, X. D., Huang, S. Y. and Qiao, Z. (2021). Formation of the mass density peak at the magnetospheric equator triggered by EMIC waves. Earth Planet. Phys., 5(1), 32–41 doi: 10.26464/epp2021008
Citation: Xue, Z. X., Yuan, Z. G., Yu, X. D., Huang, S. Y. and Qiao, Z. (2021). Formation of the mass density peak at the magnetospheric equator triggered by EMIC waves. Earth Planet. Phys., 5(1), 32–41 doi: 10.26464/epp2021008
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Formation of the mass density peak at the magnetospheric equator triggered by EMIC waves

doi: 10.26464/epp2021008
    Abstract
  • We report a simultaneous observation of two band electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves and toroidal Alfvén waves by the Van Allen Probe mission. Through wave frequency analyses, the mass density ρ is found to be locally peaked at the magnetic equator. Perpendicular fluxes of ions (< 100 eV) increase simultaneously with the appearances of EMIC waves, indicating a heating of these ions by EMIC waves. In addition, the measured ion distributions also support the equatorial peak formation, which accords with the result of the frequency analyses. The formation of local mass density peaks at the equator should be due to enhancements of equatorial ion concentrations, which are triggered by EMIC waves’ perpendicular heating on low energy ions.

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