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Modulation of Chorus Waves During Pulsating Aurora Events

Lillian Daneshmand; University of Iowa

Previous studies have demonstrated the link between whistler mode chorus waves originating in the equatorial magnetosphere and pulsating aurora. It is understood that lower-band chorus waves serve as a main driver for pulsating aurora through pitch angle scattering of electrons with energies of tens of keV into the loss cone. This work  aims to further illuminate the extent of the relationship between VLF chorus and pulsating aurora by investigating the processes through which chorus waves are modulated. One theory posits that chorus wave modulation may be due to interactions between ULF waves and the background plasma through mechanisms such as density modulation. This work uses in situ wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes to study the relationship between these ULF waves and the modulated chorus and THEMIS All-Sky Imager data in order to provide a clearer picture of the process by which chorus waves are generated and modulated in the magnetosphere as well as how their modulation affects pulsating aurora observed on the ground.

Anyone wishing to join the seminar virtually can do so via Zoom - https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/93816357338