12-15 July 2011
Saint George Hotel
Africa/Johannesburg timezone

Pc3 pulsations during low density events

15 Jul 2011, 09:15
15m
Acro2

Acro2

Oral Presentation Track D2 - Space Science APSS

Speaker

Mr Stefan Lotz (SANSA: Rhodes University)

Description

We study the generation of Pc3 geomagnetic pulsations (22 – 100 mHz) measured at Tihany, Hungary during intervals of very low solar wind (SW) proton density (low density events - LDE’s) when Np ~ 1/cc. We know the main SW based drivers of Pc3's are SW velocity and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) direction. However, it is observed that under very low SW density pulsation activity measured on the ground is paused, regardless of otherwise favourable conditions. A simple statistical study is performed to show the dependence of pulsation activity on Np, and we estimate a threshold Np, below which pulsations cease. Furthermore we use the growth rate of the ion beam instability, that generates the ULF waves upstream of the bow shock (which drive Pc3's), to explain the observed dependence of Pc3 pulsations on solar wind density.

Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)? No
Level (Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD, other)? PhD
Consider for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)? Yes

Primary author

Mr Stefan Lotz (SANSA: Rhodes University)

Co-authors

Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell (SANSA: Space Science Directorate; Dept. of Physics and Electronics, Rhodes University) Dr Peter Sutcliffe (SANSA: Space Science Directorate)

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