The characteristics of EMIC waves observed by the Van Allen Probes and
Arase satellites
Abstract
We performed a comprehensive statistical study of electromagnetic ion
cyclotron (EMIC) waves observed by the Van Allen Probes and Exploration
of energization and Radiation in Geospace satellite (ERG/Arase). From
2017 to 2018, we identified and categorized EMIC wave events with
respect to wavebands (H+ and He+ EMIC waves) and relative locations from
the plasmasphere (inside and outside the plasmasphere). We found that
H-band EMIC waves in the morning sector at L>8 are
predominantly observed with a mixture of linear and right-handed
polarity and higher wave normal angles during quiet geomagnetic
conditions. Both H+ and He+ EMIC waves observed in the noon sector at
L~4-6 have left-handed polarity and lower wave normal
angles at |MLAT|< 20˚ during the recovery
phase of a storm with moderate solar wind pressure. In the afternoon
sector (12-18 MLT), He-band EMIC waves are dominantly observed with
strongly enhanced wave power at L~6-8 during the storm
main phase, while in the dusk sector (17-21 MLT) they have lower wave
normal angles with linear polarity at L>8 during
geomagnetic quiet conditions. Based on distinct characteristics at
different EMIC wave occurrence regions, we suggest that EMIC waves in
the magnetosphere can be generated by different free energy sources.
Possible sources include the freshly injected particles from the plasma
sheet, adiabatic heating by dayside magnetospheric compressions,
suprathermal proton heating by magnetosonic waves, and off-equatorial
sources.