Ion conics and counterstreaming electrons generated by lower hybrid waves in the Earth's magnetosphere

The exotic phenomenon of energetic ion-conic and counterstreaming electron formulation by lower hybrid waves along the discrete auroral field lines in the Earth's magnetosphere is considered. Mean particle calculations, plasma simulations, and analytical treatments of the acceleration processes are described. It is shown that, in the primary auroral electron-beam region, lower hybrid waves could be an efficient mechanism for the transverse heating of ions of ionospheric origin (H/sup +/ and O/sup +/) as well as for the field-aligned heating of the ambient electrons leading to coincident counterstreaming electron distributions. For oxygen ions to be energized by such a wave-particle interaction process, however, some sort of preheating mechanism will be required.<
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