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Scattering by chorus waves as the dominant cause of diffuse auroral precipitation

Author

Listed:
  • Richard M. Thorne

    (University of California, Los Angeles)

  • Binbin Ni

    (University of California, Los Angeles)

  • Xin Tao

    (University of California, Los Angeles)

  • Richard B. Horne

    (British Antarctic Survey
    University of Sheffield)

  • Nigel P. Meredith

    (British Antarctic Survey)

Abstract

Chorus waves drive diffuse aurora Earth's diffuse aurora, almost invisible from the ground, was discovered in images from the Isis-2 satellite in 1971 as a broad ring of light around the auroral oval. The diffuse aurora is the main source of energy for the high-latitude night-side upper atmosphere, and for many years there has been controversy over the mechanism causing the scattering loss of plasma-sheet electrons that powers it. Two distinct classes of magnetospheric plasma waves have been suggested: electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic waves, and the more structured whistler-mode 'chorus' waves generated by electrons travelling through Earth's magnetic field. Thorne et al. report an analysis of satellite wave data that reveals that scattering by chorus is the dominant cause of the most intense diffuse auroral precipitation.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard M. Thorne & Binbin Ni & Xin Tao & Richard B. Horne & Nigel P. Meredith, 2010. "Scattering by chorus waves as the dominant cause of diffuse auroral precipitation," Nature, Nature, vol. 467(7318), pages 943-946, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:467:y:2010:i:7318:d:10.1038_nature09467
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09467
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    Cited by:

    1. N. Kitamura & T. Amano & Y. Omura & S. A. Boardsen & D. J. Gershman & Y. Miyoshi & M. Kitahara & Y. Katoh & H. Kojima & S. Nakamura & M. Shoji & Y. Saito & S. Yokota & B. L. Giles & W. R. Paterson & C, 2022. "Direct observations of energy transfer from resonant electrons to whistler-mode waves in magnetosheath of Earth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Xiongdong Yu & Zhigang Yuan & Jiang Yu & Dedong Wang & Dan Deng & H. O. Funsten, 2023. "Diffuse auroral precipitation driven by lower-band chorus second harmonics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Shangchun Teng & Yifan Wu & Yuki Harada & Jacob Bortnik & Fulvio Zonca & Liu Chen & Xin Tao, 2023. "Whistler-mode chorus waves at Mars," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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