Global structure and properties of ULF waves in the ion foreshock observed in a Hybrid-Vlasov simulation.

Energetic ions reflected and accelerated by the Earth’s bow shock travel back into the solar wind, forming the ion foreshock, and generate ultralow frequency (ULF) waves. Such ULF waves have been extensively studied over the past few decades using satellite measurements. However, the spatial variations of the wave properties cannot be well resolved by satellite observations due to the limited number of available spacecraft simultaneously inside the ion foreshock. Therefore, we conduct a global survey of the ULF wave properties in the ion foreshock through analysis of a Vlasiator (a hybrid-Vlasov code) simulation. Previous studies validated that this simulation well reproduced Earth’s foreshock and the ULF waves in it [e.g., Palmroth et al., 2015; Turc et al., 2018]. Here we focus on the wave properties, including frequency, ellipticity, polarization, wave normal angle and growth rate, of the well-known 30-sec wave and its multiple harmonics. We report that the ULF waves near the edge of the foreshock are very different from the waves in the center of the foreshock. We also show the related ion distribution and discuss the connection between the observed ion beams and ULF waves, aiming at understanding the cause of the observed differences in wave properties.

 

This study is supported by NASA grant 80NSSC20K0801. Vlasiator is developed by the European Research Council Starting grant 200141-QuESpace, and Consolidator grant GA682068-PRESTISSIMO received by the Vlasiator PI. Vlasiator has also received funding from the Academy of Finland. See www.helsinki.fi/vlasiator

 

Palmroth, M., et al. (2015), ULF foreshock under radial IMF: THEMIS observations and global kinetic simulation Vlasiator results compared, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 120, 8782–8798, doi:10.1002/2015JA021526.

Turc, L., Ganse, U., Pfau-Kempf, Y., Hoilijoki, S., Battarbee, M., Juusola, L., et al. (2018). Foreshock properties at typical and enhanced interplanetary magnetic field strengths: results from hybrid-Vlasov simulations. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 123, 5476–5493. doi:10.1029/2018JA025466.