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Abstract We report on a novel scenario of subauroral arcs within strong subauroral ion drifts (SAID)‐STEVE and Picket Fence. Their explanation requires a local source of low‐energy,ε < 18.75 eV, suprathermal electrons, and N2vibrational and electronic excitation below ∼270 km. We show that the ionospheric feedback instability in strong SAID flows with depleted density troughs generates intense, small‐scale field‐aligned currents and parallel electric fields below the F2peak. With these fields, we employed a rigorous numerical solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation for the distribution of ionospheric electrons and determined the power going to excitation and ionization of neutral gas (the energy balance). The obtained suprathermal electron population and energy balance at altitudes of ∼130–140 km are just what is necessary for Picket Fence. Concerning STEVE, the kinetic theory predictions are in a good qualitative agreement with its basic features, such as the enhanced continuum emissions. Besides, the theory predicts that subauroral arcs might have the transient phase with typical aurora‐like emissions that fade out afterward.
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The Inner Structure of STEVE‐Linked SAID
Abstract We found the inner electromagnetic structure of subauroral ion drifts (SAID) in the SAID‐STEVE events documented by the Swarm spacecraft and numerically simulated the ionospheric feedback instability (IFI) development for one of the four similar events. Good quantitative agreement of the modeling results with the observed features shows that the ionospheric feedback mechanism captures their basic underlying physics. Simulations require nonlinear saturation of the IFI‐generated dispersive Alfvén waves. That is, a strong driving field of STEVE‐linked SAID with a deep density trough leads to a nonlinear system of dispersive Alfvén waves coupled with the density perturbation and parallel electric fields. As shown earlier, these fields produce the suprathermal electron population and energy balance necessary for the STEVE and Picket Fence radiation. Therefore, our results predict their inner structure.
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- PAR ID:
- 10409624
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Volume:
- 50
- Issue:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 0094-8276
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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