Alfvén wave generated electron time dispersion

Abstract

The results from a model of kinetic Alfvén waves which includes varying magnetic field and density show that time-dispersed bursts of auroral electrons can be accelerated by Alfvén wave pulses propagating from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere. The modeled electron signatures have similar energy range and temporal structure to those observed on sounding rockets and satellites suggesting that electron time dispersion is generated by Alfvén waves.