Lower-hybrid waves generated by anomalous Doppler resonance in auroral plasmas

Abstract

This paper describes sonic aspects of lower-hybrid wave activity in space plasmas. Lower-hybrid waves are particularly important since they can transfer energy efficiently between electrons and ions in a collisionless magnetized plasma. We consider the 'fan' or anomalous Doppler resonance instability driven by energetic electron tails and show that it is responsible for the generation of lower-hybrid waves. We also demonstrate that observations of their intensity are sufficient to drive the modulational instability.