Double Beam Instability for the Mercury Upstream Waves

Mercury shock-upstream region is plasma physically of great interest, as the solar wind plasma may encounter two ion beams, forming a double-beam plasma system. Properties of the double-beam instability are studied semianalytically using the magnetoionic theory (cold plasma waves including beams), s...

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Main Authors: Y. Narita, U. Motschmann, H. Comişel, D. Schmid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adc1bc
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author Y. Narita
U. Motschmann
H. Comişel
D. Schmid
author_facet Y. Narita
U. Motschmann
H. Comişel
D. Schmid
author_sort Y. Narita
collection DOAJ
description Mercury shock-upstream region is plasma physically of great interest, as the solar wind plasma may encounter two ion beams, forming a double-beam plasma system. Properties of the double-beam instability are studied semianalytically using the magnetoionic theory (cold plasma waves including beams), such as the unstable mode, the resonance wavenumbers, and the growth rates, for various beam configurations. The cold plasma wave theory supports the idea that both the foreshock ions and the pickup ions can potentially drive the right-hand beam instability, and moreover, the instability may run simultaneously for the two beam species. Further nonlinear wave evolution scenarios are discussed, such as independent parametric instabilities and driven wave–wave couplings causing low-frequency and high-frequency splits of the waves. The double-beam instability is testable against numerical simulations of the plasma waves as well as magnetic field observations by the MESSENGER spacecraft and the upcoming BepiColombo spacecraft.
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spelling doaj-art-afee3605c2b04a95a2d3d546bf0749de2025-08-20T02:16:10ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01983212510.3847/1538-4357/adc1bcDouble Beam Instability for the Mercury Upstream WavesY. Narita0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5332-8881U. Motschmann1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-3127H. Comişel2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5028-8482D. Schmid3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7818-4338Institute of Theoretical Physics, Technische Universität Braunschweig , Mendelssohnstr. 3, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research , Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, D-37077 Göttingen, GermanyInstitute of Theoretical Physics, Technische Universität Braunschweig , Mendelssohnstr. 3, D-38106 Braunschweig, GermanyInstitute for Space Sciences , Atomiştilor 409, P.O. Box MG-23, Bucharest-Mǎgurele, RO-077125, RomaniaSpace Research Institute , Austrian Academy of Sciences, Schmiedlstr. 6, A-8042 Graz, AustriaMercury shock-upstream region is plasma physically of great interest, as the solar wind plasma may encounter two ion beams, forming a double-beam plasma system. Properties of the double-beam instability are studied semianalytically using the magnetoionic theory (cold plasma waves including beams), such as the unstable mode, the resonance wavenumbers, and the growth rates, for various beam configurations. The cold plasma wave theory supports the idea that both the foreshock ions and the pickup ions can potentially drive the right-hand beam instability, and moreover, the instability may run simultaneously for the two beam species. Further nonlinear wave evolution scenarios are discussed, such as independent parametric instabilities and driven wave–wave couplings causing low-frequency and high-frequency splits of the waves. The double-beam instability is testable against numerical simulations of the plasma waves as well as magnetic field observations by the MESSENGER spacecraft and the upcoming BepiColombo spacecraft.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adc1bcSpace plasmasMercury (planet)Solar windPlanetary bow shocks
spellingShingle Y. Narita
U. Motschmann
H. Comişel
D. Schmid
Double Beam Instability for the Mercury Upstream Waves
The Astrophysical Journal
Space plasmas
Mercury (planet)
Solar wind
Planetary bow shocks
title Double Beam Instability for the Mercury Upstream Waves
title_full Double Beam Instability for the Mercury Upstream Waves
title_fullStr Double Beam Instability for the Mercury Upstream Waves
title_full_unstemmed Double Beam Instability for the Mercury Upstream Waves
title_short Double Beam Instability for the Mercury Upstream Waves
title_sort double beam instability for the mercury upstream waves
topic Space plasmas
Mercury (planet)
Solar wind
Planetary bow shocks
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adc1bc
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AT umotschmann doublebeaminstabilityforthemercuryupstreamwaves
AT hcomisel doublebeaminstabilityforthemercuryupstreamwaves
AT dschmid doublebeaminstabilityforthemercuryupstreamwaves