Drift‐Bounce Resonance Between Charged Particles and Ultralow Frequency Waves: Theory and Observations

Abstract

Abstract Ultralow frequency (ULF) waves have long been known to resonate with magnetospheric charged particles through their drift and bounce motions. Most research interest has focused on the resonance with drift motion, which can accelerate charged particles at very high energies. The role of the bounce motion, especially for particles with lower energies, has attracted less attention so far. Here we start from the general theory of wave‐particle interactions to predict the characteristic, observable signatures of drift‐bounce resonance. Such signatures can be described in the particle pitch angle spectrum as a series of inclined stripes, with the inclination angle depending on the latitude of the observing spacecraft. Each stripe is also twisted at two conjugated pitch angles, suggesting significant phase shifts across resonant pitch angles. These predicted signatures are found consistent with observations from the THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) spacecraft, and therefore provide an identification of drift‐bounce resonance together with a validated picture over the importance of particle's bounce motion in the ULF wave‐particle interactions.