Parametric decay of linearly polarized shear Alfvn waves in oblique propagation: One and two-dimensional hybrid simulations

Abstract

The parametric instability of a monochromatic shear Alfvn wave in oblique propagation with respect the ambient magnetic field is investigated in a kinetic regime, performing one-dimensional (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) hybrid simulations. The parallel component of the mother wave is found to be subject to a parametric decay which excites an ion-acoustic wave along the magnetic field and a backward propagating daughter shear Alfvn wave, as in the instability for a purely parallel mother wave. At the same time, the acoustic wave generation supports the acceleration of a velocity beam in the ion distribution function, due to the non-linear trapping of protons. Moreover, the instability leads to the generation of broad band oblique spectra of coupled Alfvnic and compressive modes with variable perpendicular wavevectors, and, as a consequence, the magnetic field after saturation is characterized by a strong transverse modulation. © 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.