Propagation of Whistler-Mode Waves in a Combination of Density and Magnetic Field-Aligned Irregularities

Abstract

The paper presents results from the analytical and numerical investigations of the propagation of whistler-mode waves in the magnetosphere containing field-aligned irregularities of the plasma density and the magnetic field. Whistler-mode waves can be guided along the field by the field-aligned irregularities consisting of the enhancement or depletion of the plasma density (high-density or low-density ducts). It also can be guided by the irregularities consisting of the enhancement or depletion of the magnetic field (high-magnetic or low-magnetic ducts). We demonstrate that these density and magnetic ducts considered together can “enhance” or “degrade” ducting of the whistler-mode waves by each other. Specifically, the low-density duct enhances wave trapping by the high-magnetic duct and degrades the wave trapping by the low-magnetic duct and vice versa. The high-density duct enhances wave trapping by the low-magnetic duct and degrades the wave trapping by the high-magnetic duct and vice versa.