Threshold of auroral intensification reduced by electron precipitation effect

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electron precipitation-induced ionization lowers the threshold electric field needed for auroral intensification, enhancing understanding of auroral dynamics during substorms.

Contribution

It introduces the effect of electron precipitation on Alfvén wave instability, showing that ionization reduces the convection electric field threshold for auroral intensification.

Findings

Ionization from electron precipitation significantly lowers the electric field threshold.

The threshold reduction correlates with observed electron energy spectra.

Results improve understanding of auroral intensification mechanisms.

Abstract

It has been known that discrete aurora suddenly intensifies and deforms from an arc-like to a variety of wavy/vortex structures, especially during a substorm period. The instability of Alfv$\acute{\rm e}$n waves reflected from the ionosphere has been analyzed in order to comprehend the ignition process of auroral intensification. It was presented that the prime key is an enhancement of plasma convection, and the convection electric field has a threshold. This study examined effects of auroral electron precipitation, causing the ionization of neutral atmosphere, on the linear instability of Alfv$\acute{\rm e}$n waves. It was found that the threshold of convection electric fields is significantly reduced by increasing the ionization rate, the realistic range of which could be estimated from observed electron energy spectra.