Plasma density and magnetic field fluctuations in the ion gyro-frequency
range near the diamagnetic cavity of comet 67P
Abstract
We report the detection of large-amplitude, quasi-harmonic density
fluctuations with associated magnetic field oscillations in the region
surrounding the diamagnetic cavity of comet 67P. Typical frequencies are
~0.1 Hz, corresponding to ~10 times the
water and ≲0.5 times the proton gyro-frequencies, respectively. Magnetic
field oscillations are not always clearly observed in association with
these density fluctuations, but when they are, they consistently have
wave vectors perpendicular to the background magnetic field, with the
principal axis of polarization close to field-aligned and with a
~90° phase shift w.r.t. the density fluctuations. The
fluctuations are observed in association with asymmetric plasma density
and magnetic field enhancements previously found in the region
surrounding the diamagnetic cavity, occurring predominantly on their
descending slopes. This is a new type of waves not previously observed
at comets. They are likely Ion Bernstein waves, and we propose that they
are excited by unstable ring, ring-beam or spherical shell distributions
of cometary ions just outside the cavity boundary. These waves may play
an important role in redistributing energy between different particle
populations and reshape the plasma environment of the comet.