Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Ion Cyclotron Waves In The High Altitude Cusp: Cluster Observations At Varying Spacecraft Separations, K. Nykyri, P. J. Cargill, E. A. Lucek, T. S. Horbury, A. Balogh, B. Lavraud, I. Dandouras, H. Reme

Publications

We have analysed high-resolution Cluster magnetic field data during three high-altitude cusp crossings in 2001 and 2002. The Cluster separations for these crossings varied between 100 and 600 km and therefore provided an unique opportunity to study wave properties at different length scales. In the cusp Cluster sees frequent intervals of magnetic field fluctuations with clear peaks in power close to the local ion cyclotron frequency, and both left- and right-handed polarisations. At large separations the power seen at different spacecraft can differ by orders of magnitude. For smaller separations, the power seen at the four spacecraft agrees better but …