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Abstract While whistler‐mode waves are generated by injected anisotropic electrons on the nightside, the observed day‐night asymmetry of wave distributions raises an intriguing question about their generation on the dayside. In this study, we evaluate the distributions of whistler‐mode wave amplitudes and electrons as a function of distance from the magnetopause (MP) on the dayside from 6 to 18 hr in magnetic local time (MLT) within ±18° of magnetic latitude using the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interaction During Substorms measurements from June 2010 to August 2018. Specifically, under different levels of solar wind dynamic pressure and geomagnetic index, we conduct a statistical analysis to examine whistler‐mode wave amplitude, as well as anisotropy and phase space density (PSD) of source electrons across 1–20 keV energies, which potentially provide a source of free energy for wave generation. In coordinates relative to the MP, we find that lower‐band (0.05–0.5fce) waves occur much closer to the MP than upper‐band (0.5–0.8fce) waves, wherefceis electron cyclotron frequency. Our statistical results reveal that strong waves are associated with high anisotropy and high PSD of source electrons near the equator, indicating a preferred region for local wave generation on the dayside. Over 10–14 hr in MLT, as latitude increases, electron anisotropy decreases, while whistler‐mode wave amplitudes increase, suggesting that wave propagation from the equator to higher latitudes, along with amplification along the propagation path, is necessary to explain the observed waves on the dayside.more » « lessFree, publicly-accessible full text available April 1, 2026
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Olney, AM; Chounta, IA; Liu, Z; Santos, OC; Bittencourt, II (Ed.)An advantage of Large Language Models (LLMs) is their contextualization capability – providing different responses based on student inputs like solution strategy or prior discussion, to potentially better engage students than standard feedback. We present a design and evaluation of a proof-of-concept LLM application to offer students dynamic and contextualized feedback. Specifically, we augment an Online Programming Exercise bot for a college-level Cloud Computing course with ChatGPT, which offers students contextualized reflection triggers during a collaborative query optimization task in database design. We demonstrate that LLMs can be used to generate highly situated reflection triggers that incorporate details of the collaborative discussion happening in context. We discuss in depth the exploration of the design space of the triggers and their correspondence with the learning objectives as well as the impact on student learning in a pilot study with 34 students.more » « lessFree, publicly-accessible full text available July 2, 2025
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Interchange instability is known to drive fast radial transport of particles in Jupiter's inner magnetosphere. Magnetic flux tubes associated with the interchange instability often coincide with changes in particle distributions and plasma waves, but further investigations are required to understand their detailed characteristics. We analyze representative interchange events observed by Juno, which exhibit intriguing features of particle distributions and plasma waves, including Z‐mode and whistler‐mode waves. These events occurred at an equatorial radial distance of ∼9 Jovian radii on the nightside, with Z‐mode waves observed at mid‐latitude and whistler‐mode waves near the equator. We calculate the linear growth rate of whistler‐mode and Z‐mode waves based on the observed plasma parameters and electron distributions and find that both waves can be locally generated within the interchanged flux tube. Our findings are important for understanding particle transport and generation of plasma waves in the magnetospheres of Jupiter and other planetary systems.more » « less
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Abstract Element isotopes are characterized by distinct atomic masses and nuclear spins, which can significantly influence material properties. Notably, however, isotopes in natural materials are homogenously distributed in space. Here, we propose a method to configure material properties by repositioning isotopes in engineered van der Waals (vdW) isotopic heterostructures. We showcase the properties of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) isotopic heterostructures in engineering confined photon-lattice waves—hyperbolic phonon polaritons. By varying the composition, stacking order, and thicknesses of h10BN and h11BN building blocks, hyperbolic phonon polaritons can be engineered into a variety of energy-momentum dispersions. These confined and tailored polaritons are promising for various nanophotonic and thermal functionalities. Due to the universality and importance of isotopes, our vdW isotope heterostructuring method can be applied to engineer the properties of a broad range of materials.more » « less
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Abstract Electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves in the Earth's outer radiation belt drive rapid electron losses through wave‐particle interactions. The precipitating electron flux can be high in the hundreds of keV energy range, well below the typical minimum resonance energy. One of the proposed explanations relies on nonresonant scattering, which causes pitch‐angle diffusion away from the fundamental cyclotron resonance. Here we propose the fractional sub‐cyclotron resonance, a second‐order nonlinear effect that scatters particles at resonance ordern = 1/2, as an alternate explanation. Using test‐particle simulations, we evaluate the precipitation ratios of sub‐MeV electrons for wave packets with various shapes, amplitudes, and wave normal angles. We show that the nonlinear sub‐cyclotron scattering produces larger ratios than the nonresonant scattering when the wave amplitude reaches sufficiently large values. The ELFIN CubeSats detected several events with precipitation ratio patterns matching our simulation, demonstrating the importance of sub‐cyclotron resonances during intense precipitation events.more » « less
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Abstract In this study, using Van Allen Probes observations we identify 81 events of electron flux bursts with butterfly pitch angle distributions for tens of keV electrons with close correlations with chorus wave bursts in the Earth's magnetosphere. We use the high‐rate electron flux data from Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer available during 2013–2019 and the simultaneous whistler‐mode wave measurements from Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science to identify the correlated events. The events are categorized into 67 upper‐band chorus (0.5–0.8fce) dominated events and 14 other events where lower‐band chorus (0.05–0.5fce) has modest or strong amplitudes (fcerepresents electron cyclotron frequency). Each electron flux burst correlated with chorus has a short timescale of ∼1 min or less, suggesting potential nonlinear effects. The statistical distribution of selected electron burst events tends to occur in the post‐midnight sector atL > 5 under disturbed geomagnetic conditions, and is associated with chorus waves with relatively strong magnetic wave amplitude and small wave normal angle. The frequency dependence of the electron flux peaks agrees with the cyclotron resonant condition, indicating the effects of chorus‐induced electron acceleration. Our study provides new insights into understanding the rapid nonlinear interactions between chorus and energetic electrons.more » « less