Faculty Candidate Physics Dept Seminar

March 19th, Monday

ElectroMagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves in the Geospace

Dr. Jichun Zhang

Univ. of New Hampshire

(Terrestrial Physics, Host: Gerrard)

*SPECIAL TIME: 2:45pm-3:45pm with 2:30pm teatime

*SPECIAL ROOM: FMH 408

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves play an important role in the overall dynamics of the geospace. Particularly, these waves contribute to the energization and loss of magnetospheric particles. For instance, EMIC waves can interact with relativistic electrons in the radiation belts as well as energetic ions in the ring current, resulting in rapid scattering loss. In this talk, I will discuss the excitation and propagation of EMIC waves and three crucial EMIC wave-associated plasma conditions: 1) hot anisotropic ions, which is the free energy provider of EMIC waves and serves as a necessary condition for the EMIC wave growth, 2) ion heating, which indicates the effect of the EMIC waves, and 3) cold dense plasma, which plays a catalytic role in the wave generation and affects the wave properties. Outstanding problems about EMIC waves and unprecedented opportunities to solve them with multi-point measurements from satellites and CubeSats will also be presented.