Abstract
A broad statistical study addresses for the first time an evolution of
ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves/fluctuations in the terrestrial
foreshock around the Moon generated through the interaction between the
back-streaming particles reflected from the bow shock and the incoming
solar wind. They propagate sunward but are convected by the solar wind
flow back toward the bow shock and their amplitudes grow. However, our
study shows that waves could be growing as well as decaying towards the
bow shock under the quasi-radial interplanetary magnetic field. We
demonstrate that the statistically determined growth rate is positive
and larger for compressive variations of the density and magnetic field
strength than for its components. We show that even if a possible
influence of the Moon and its wake is excluded, the growth rate is
decreased by non-linear effects leading to saturation of the wave
amplitude.