MHD waveguide in the outer magnetosphere and mechanisms of its excitation

The geomagnetic field and plasma inhomogeneities in the outer equatorial part of the magnetosphere are responsible for the existence of the channel with low Alfven speeds, which extends from the nose to the far flanks of the magnetosphere, both in the morning and evening sectors. This channel serves as a waveguide in the fast magnetosonic waves. Travelling along the waveguide (i.e., in the azimuthal direction), an eigenmode undergoes evolution. Parameters of the waveguide vary along the way of the wave propagation and the eigenmode “adapts” to these parameters. Conditions of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability change due to the variation of the solar wind speed along the magnetopause. Conditions of the penetration of solar wind hydromagnetic waves into the magnetosphere change due to the same variation. The wave penetration process turns to the overreflection regime, which sharply amplifies the pump level of the magnetospheric waveguide. The fast mode propagating along the waveguide is accompanied by the Alfven resonance deep within the magnetosphere. Oscillation energy dissipation takes place in the vicinity of the Alfven resonance. Along the magnetic field lines, the Alfven resonance is a standing Alfven wave; thus it reaches the ionosphere and the Earth’s surface. At the same time, no fast waveguide modes localized in the low Alfven speed channel can be observed on the Earth. Waveguide oscillations evolution is investigated in this paper both analytically and numerically taking into account all of the aforementioned factors as the oscillations propagate from the nose to the tail of the magnetosphere. Spectral composition and spatial structure of the oscillations are found. The theory allows for a description of Pc3 and Pc5 pulsations - the most important magnetospheric pulsations. As such it follows that Pc3 are localized on the dayside of the magnetosphere, whereas Pc 5 are localized in the dawn-dusk sectors - in full agreement with the observations.