Identifying nonlinear wave interactions in plasmas using two-point measurements: A case study of Short Large Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS)

Thierry Dudok de Wit (1, 2) , V. Krasnosel'Skikh (3) , M. Dunlop , H. Lühr

1 LPC2E - Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace
2 CPT - Centre de Physique Théorique - UMR 6207
3 LPCE - Laboratoire de physique et chimie de l'environnement

Two fundamental quantities for characterizing nonlinear wave phenomena in plasmas are the spectral energy transfer associated with the energy redistribution between Fourier modes, and the linear growth rate. It is shown how these quantities can be estimated simultaneously from dual-spacecraft data using Volterra series models. We consider magnetic field data gathered upstream the Earth's quasiparallel bow shock, in which Short Large Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS) supposedly play a leading role. The analysis attests the dynamic evolution of the SLAMS and reveals an energy cascade toward high-frequency waves. These results put constraints on possible mechanisms for the shock front formation.

Domains: Astrophysics [astro-ph]; Solar and Stellar Astrophysics [astro-ph.SR]; Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM]; Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability [physics.data-an]; Space Physics [physics.space-ph]; Plasma Physics [physics.plasm-ph]

Thierry Dudok de Wit, V. Krasnosel'Skikh, M. Dunlop, H. Lühr. Identifying nonlinear wave interactions in plasmas using two-point measurements: A case study of Short Large Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS). Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, 1999, 104 (A8), pp.17079-17090. ⟨10.1029/1999JA900134⟩. ⟨insu-03388642⟩