Indian Journal of Pure & Applied Physics

Vol. 47, May 2009, pp. 350-355

Study on kinetic Alfven wave in inertial regime

Nidhi Shukla*, P Varma & M S Tiwari*
Department of Physics & Electronics, Dr H S Gour University, Sagar 470 003
*E-mail: tiwarims@rediffmail.com, poornimavarma@yahoo.com, nidhiphy.shukla@gmail.com
Received 28 August 2008; revised 31 December 2008; accepted 4 February 2009

The effect of electron inertia on kinetic Alfven wave (KAW) has been studied. The inertial Alfven waves propagating
in regions of auroral electron acceleration are reported from the FAST spacecraft over its entire altitude range (350-4180),
(e.g., Chaston et al., Physics Scripta, T84, (2000) 64). The Vlasov-kinetic theory has been adopted to evaluate the dispersion
relation, damping rate and growth length, with respect to the normalized perpendicular wave number (k⊥c/ωpe) with different
plasma density. It is observed that inertial Alfven wave frequency (ω) is decreasing with (k⊥c/ωpe) and plasma density. The
growth rate and growth length are evaluated for different (me/βmi), where β is the ratio of electron pressure to the magnetic
field pressure, mi,e are the mass of ion and electron, respectively as β = me/βmi represent boundary between the kinetic and
inertial regimes. The effects of electron density on the wave frequency, growth rate and growth length are also given as the
wave propagates towards higher density side of the lower ionospheric region. Although, the wave is highly damped, it
requires longer distance of propagation as predicted by growth length. Thus, some another mechanism should also be
operative to dissipate kinetic Alfven wave energy as the Landau damping mechanism alone is not sufficient due to higher
growth length. The results show the scenario of auroral pattern in northern and southern hemisphere (Swift D W, J Geophys
Res, 112 (2007) A12207). The significance of the investigation for the auroral acceleration region is also presented.
Keywords: Inertial Alfven wave, Auroral region, Acceleration, Growth length, Landau damping

1 Indroduction Polar cusp6,9. Swift10 has described that it has long

The electron acceleration in auroral region is
presumed to occur as a result of the acceleration of
plasma sheet electron by Alfven waves1 which are in
the inertial regime2. Angelopoulos3 stated that kinetic
Alfven waves were proposed initially by Hasegawa
and Chen4 to explain heating of electrons and ions at a
region and layer of magnetospheric field lines by a
surface wave at the magnetopause (driver). The
concept is that when the incoming compressional
oscillations reach the resonant layer, they become
kinetic, now propagating across the magnetic field
because of the finite perpendicular wavelength
supported by the finite ion gyroradius and /or electron
inertia. The kinetic Alfven waves which are
operational in the regime (me / mi < βe < 1) and their
distinction from the inertial Alfven waves which
depend on finite electron inertia, are operational in the
regime3,5 (β e < me / mi ) .
At short perpendicular spatial scale6, parallel
electric fields and large wave poynting flux in
dispersive shear Alfven waves are speculated to
produce electron acceleration up to the keV range7.
There is a strong observational evidence for this in the
case of short parallel wavelength inertial or kinetic
scale Alfven waves propagating2,8 on the PSBL and
been recognized when the perpendicular wavelength
of shear Alfven waves becomes comparable to the
electron inertial length, λ e = c / ω pe the wave electric
field exists11. This makes it possible for these inertial
scale waves to accelerate electrons parallel to the
magnetic field. Moreover, inertial Alfven waves
provide an acceleration mechanism that requires the
finite scale structure so characteristic of the discrete
aurora12. There has lately been increasing theoretical
interest in the role of inertial Alfven waves in
accelerating auroral electrons10,13-17. At altitudes of
less than about 2-3 RE where much of the auroral
acceleration is thought to occur the electron inertial
effect is the most important18,19. This has led to a
variety of models that have considered the
development of parallel electric fields due to electron
inertia20-24.
At higher altitude22, electron acceleration has been
associated with observation of small scale Alfven
waves2 at the PSBL and is consistent with the kinetic
Alfven wave dispersion relation in the regime where
electron pressure rather the electron inertia supports
the parallel electric field5,25. Wright26 observed the
importance of electron inertia in auroral currents
which was first noted by Goertz and Boswell11
 SHUKLA et al.: KINETIC ALFVEN WAVE IN INERTIAL REGIME 351

claiming that electron inertia alone can produce electric vector and wave vector in the same plane, we
significant parallel electric field27 E||. In the ideal can write the dispersion relation in the form:
magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) limit Alfven waves
propagate exactly along the background magnetic Dxx Dxz
field lines, but more realistic descriptions of these =0 …(1)
Dzx Dzz
waves include the effects of either electron inertia or
pressure which leads to a non-zero parallel electric
field of the wave and cross field propagation. This We can evaluate the value of Dxx, Dxz, Dzx, Dzz from
description has been invoked to explain the spatial Nidhi et al.32,33, Lysak and Lotko5 where
structure of the shear wave electron acceleration in
auroral arcs28-31. When explaining on the MHD limit,  c 2 k||2
it is important to consider the ratio of electron thermal Dxx ( k ,ω) = ε ⊥ −
ω2
speed (ve2 = 2Te / me ) to the Alfven speed c 2 1 − Γ 0 (µi )
ε⊥ = … (2)
VA2 = B02 / 4πn j mi where Te is the electron temperature VA2 µi
in eV, me the electron mass, B0 the background field
strength, ni the ion density, and mi is the ion mass. A similarly
convenient parameter to distinguish between two 
limiting regimes is the electron beta βe = 8πneTe / B02  c 2 k|| k⊥
scaled by the ion to electron mass ratio:
Dxz ( )
k,ω =
ω2
…(3)

β
e = βe (mi / me ) = (Ve / VA )2 as described28. 

~  c 2 k|| k⊥
For β e >1, the shear wave is termed the kinetic Dzx ( k , ω) = …(4)
Alfven wave. In this limit, the fast moving electrons ω2
are able to respond adiabatically to the presence of the Γ (µ )
ε|| = 02 2e [1 + ζ 0 e Z (ζ 0 e ) ] ...(5)
wave fields. In the opposite limit β
e <1, the inertia of k|| λ De
the electrons becomes important and the shear wave is
termed the inertial Alfven wave28. Here, the 2.1 Dispersion relation
characteristics perpendicular length scale is the The dispersion relation for the KAW is given by
electron collisionless skin depth δe = c / ω pe , where the determinant of the Eq. (1), using Eqs (2-5) as:

the electron plasma frequency ω pe = 4πne e 2 / me . c 2 1 − Γ 0 (µ i ) n|| n⊥

2
− n||2
The kinetic limit is relevant to the physics of the det VA µi Γ 0 (µe ) =0
2 2 (
earth’s equatorial magnetosphere and the interior of 1 + ζ 0 e Z (ζ 0e ) ) − n⊥2
n|| n⊥ k|| λ De
tokomak plasma, while the inertial limit applies to the
earth’s ionosphere and the edge regions of laboratory …(6)
plasmas28. This model was developed for the kinetic Alfven
In this paper, we have investigated the electron wave5. In this dispersion relation, it has been assumed
inertia effect on KAW and evaluated the dispersion
relation, damping rate and growth length by the c2
that 2 >> 1 and that k||2 λ 2De << 1 so that the unit’s
kinetic theory. Our region of investigation is the VA
auroral acceleration region and below where inertial terms in the diagonal elements can be dropped.
kinetic Alfven wave are supposed to be responsible Here,
for particle acceleration. We have evaluated the
dispersion relation, damping rate and damping length k||c k⊥ c ω
n|| = , n⊥ = , µi = k⊥2 ρi2 , µe = k⊥2 ρe2 , ζ e = ,
to predict the dissipation of energy in the ionospheric ω ω k|| ae
region. 1/2
2 Mathematical Model  2T 
where ae =  e  and Γ0 (µ e ) = e−µe I 0 (µe ) and Z is
We consider the plasma with an external magnetic  me 

field B0 in the z-direction and since the KAW has its the usual plasma dispersion function34.
352 INDIAN J PURE & APPL PHYS, VOL 47, MAY 2009

We then evaluated the dispersion relation for the  

KAW as:  
 1 m  3 2 1 
π  e
 . .
ω2 µi k⊥2 ρ2s  β m i   
3
2 
= +  c2k 2 
1 + 2 ⊥ 
k||2VA2 1 − Γ 0 (µi ) Γ0 (µ e )(1 + ζ 0e Z (ζ 0e ))   ω pe  
   
 
If we consider the finite ion gyro-radius limit with hot  
electrons, the dispersion relation for the  1 m  1 
KAW5,32,33,35,36 is written as: exp  −  e
. 
  β m i   c2k 2  
 1 + 2 ⊥  
 ω pe 
  3  γL
=−     …(8)
ω2 = k||2 VA2 1 + k⊥2  ρ2s + ρi2   ω  ω 2pe 
  4  1 + 2 2 
 c k ⊥ 

if we consider cold electron the electron gyroradius
where, ck⊥/ωpc is the normalized perpendicular wave
can again be ignored and we can write:
number and a parameter proportional to the electron
pressure (Ve2 / VA2 ) = β(mi / me ) is introduced (Note
ω2 µi 1
= that the value β(mi / me ) denotes the boundary
k|| VA 1 − Γ 0 (µi )  k⊥2 c 2 
2 2

1 + 2  between the kinetic and the inertial regimes).

 ω pe 

2.3 Growth/damping length
The results reduce to Eq. (2) from Lysak and The growth/damping length Lg of the KAW is
Lotko5, when the ion gyroradius is taken to be zero, in derived37 as:
which case first factor of right hand side is 1 and
Vg
Lg = , where Vg denotes the group velocity
k||2VA2 γ
2 ... (7)
ω =
 k⊥2 c 2 
1 + 2  We evaluated growth/damping length by Eqs (7) and
 ω pe 
 (8) as:
 
52  2 
This is the dispersion relation for inertial kinetic 2
1  ω pe  k⊥  c k⊥   k|| c k⊥ ω pe 
2 2 2 2 2
Alfven wave5. In the above dispersion relation, the Lg = −   .  1 + 2  . 1 − 2
electron thermal velocity ae assumed less than the π  ck⊥  k||2  ω pe  k⊥ c2 k 2 
 1+ 2⊥ 
phase velocity of the wave so that ζ e > 1 and  ω pe 

asymptotic expansion of plasma distribution function
Z (ζ e ) is made due to electron inertial effect.   
32   
 m  1 m 
.exp   e
1
× β i 

… (9)
2.2 Growth/damping rate  2 2
We assumed ω → ω + i γ L with γ L < ω , to obtain
 me   β  mi 1 + c k⊥ 
r   ω2pe 
  
the growth/damping rate
 which may predict the damping length as the energy
Im D (ω, k ) is dissipated by Landau damping mechanism.
γL = − 
∂
Re D (ω, k )
∂ω 3 Results and Discussion
In the present analysis, the expression for the
Thus, obtained an expression for the collisionless dispersion relation and damping/growth rate and
growth/damping rate of the inertial kinetic Alfven growth length are numerically evaluated for the
wave as inertial kinetic Alfven wave. We have used the
 SHUKLA et al.: KINETIC ALFVEN WAVE IN INERTIAL REGIME 353

following parameters appropriate to the auroral region It is noticed that damping length is minimum for
B0 = 4300nT, k|| = 10−7 / cm, c = 3×1010 cm/s. maximum damping rate on the scale of ck⊥/ωpc.
Figure 1 shows the variation of wave frequency However, damping length is much higher than the
ω(s−1) versus the normalized perpendicular wave altitudes of auroral acceleration region, thus wave
vector (ck⊥/ωpc) at the fixed electron density energy is not sufficiently dissipated by the Landau
n0=100 cm−3. Note that the wave frequency decreases damping mechanism to accelerate the auroral
with ck⊥/ωpc. Thus, the lower frequencies are electrons. The undissipated energy may be reflected
observed at higher obliqueness angles. The observed back to the opposite hemisphere to exhibit auroral
frequencies may correspond to inertial scale length pattern10. It can be predicted that much of the aurora
(c/ωpe) and its perpendicular wave number k┴ may seen is the northern hemisphere may be due to the
determine the scale length of auroral arc. electrons accelerated in the southern hemisphere10.
Figure 2 shows the variation of damping rate γL/ω
versus the normalized perpendicular wave vector
(ck⊥/ωpc) for different values of (1 / β)(me / mi ) and
the density n0=100cm-3. It is found that damping rate
is increasing with (1 / β)(me / mi ) and attains a peak at
particular value of ck⊥/ωpc ≈2 and then suddenly
decreases with higher values of ck⊥/ωpc. The
increasing values of (1 / β)(me / mi ) denotes the
effectiveness of electron inertia as the condition for
inertial kinetic Alfven waves β<<me/mi. Thus, the
energy carried by kinetic Alfven waves from the
plasma sheet boundary layer is dissipated in the
auroral ionosphere due to the effect of electron inertia
and inertial kinetic Alfven wave may be more
effective than the finite gyro radius effect. The
maximum dissipation can be noticed on the inertial
length (c/ωpc) of the order of perpendicular
wavelengths. Fig. 2 — Variation of damping rate γL/ω versus the normalized
perpendicular wave vector (ck⊥/ωpc) for different values of
Figure 3 shows the variation of damping length (Lg) (1/β)(me/mi) and the density n0 = 100 cm−3
with (ck⊥/ωpc) for different values of (1 / β)(me / mi ) .

Fig. 1 — Variation of wave frequency ω(s-1) versus the

normalized perpendicular wave vector (ck⊥/ωpc) at the fixed Fig. 3 — Variation of damping length (Lg) with (ck⊥/ωpc) for
electron density n0 = 100 cm−3 different values of (1/β)(me/mi)
354 INDIAN J PURE & APPL PHYS, VOL 47, MAY 2009

Fig. 5 — Variation of damping rate γL/ω versus the perpendicular

wave number (k⊥×10−5 cm−1) for different values of density n0
cm−3
Fig. 4 — Variation of wave frequency ω(s−1) versus the
perpendicular wave number (k⊥×10−5 cm−1) for different values of
density n0 cm−3

Figure 4 shows the variation of wave frequency

ω(s−1) versus the perpendicular wave number
( k⊥ × 10−5 cm −1 ) for different values of density
n0 cm−3. It is found that frequency is higher for lower
k┴ and lower density. It is decreasing with higher
value of density and perpendicular wave vector. Thus,
inertial kinetic Alfven wave when propagates from
acceleration region towards the lower ionosphere it
encounters higher density regimes demonstrating
lower frequencies. Thus, reported frequencies are
dependent on density and perpendicular wave lengths
of the regions. The corresponding damping rate is
shown in Fig. 5. It is observed that maximum
damping rate depending upon density and
perpendicular wave number, k┴, is shifted towards Fig. 6 — Variation of damping length (Lg) versus the
higher values. Thus, the scale lengths of auroral arcs perpendicular wave number (k⊥×10−5 cm−1) for different values of
density n0 cm−3
depend upon the density of the region. The maximum
damping rate is less sensitive to density but has
that most of the accelerations occur in lower density
shifted towards higher perpendicular wave number.
region of the auroral ionosphere. As the density
Figure 6 shows the damping length of inertial increases the damping length becomes higher and the
kinetic Alfven wave with respect to perpendicular wave is not fully dissipated. The inertial scale length
wave number for different densities. Here, it is corresponding to electron density 1/cm3 may
noticed that the damping length becomes less than correspond to 5.35 km that may determine the
1RE (RE is the earth`s radius) on the lower values of perpendicular scale of auroral arcs. The theory can be
k┴. Thus the acceleration may be possible in density further extended to modify the existing studies on
cavities as the density minimum are observed in kinetic Alfven waves36,38 wherever the inertial effects
acceleration region. Thus, finding supports the idea are operative.
 SHUKLA et al.: KINETIC ALFVEN WAVE IN INERTIAL REGIME
4 Conclusion
In the present analysis, the inertial kinetic Alfven
waves are investigated for auroral acceleration
process. The wave frequency, damping rate and
damping length are numerical analysed corresponding
to the plasma parameters of auroral acceleration
region. It is seen that the inertial kinetic Alfven waves
are Landau damped depending upon perpendicular
wave number, electron plasma density, and
(1 / β)(me / mi ) . Thus, the energy of kinetic Alfven
wave may be transferred to accelerating auroral
electrons by inertial kinetic Alfven waves more
effectively. However, the Landau damping
mechanism alone is not sufficient for energy
dissipation as the growth length is higher than the
altitude of auroral acceleration region. Only low
density cavities are effective to cause maximum
dissipation with in the height of auroral acceleration
region as observationally reported.
Acknowledgement
The authors thanks to CSIR (Nidhi Shukla), DST
(P Varma) and ISRO (M S Tiwari) for financial
assistance
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