TEAM
LEADERS: J. F.
McKenzie, G. Zank, E. Dubinin
The aim is to bring together
experimenters and theorists to discuss wave phenomena in a variety of space
environments with a view
to understanding the
important plasma physical processes underlying recent observations. We
anticipate that the emphasis will be
placed on nonlinear wave structures, solitons,
nonlinear periodic waves and oscillitons. The
existence of high-time and spatial resolution
of waveforms recently
observed by spacecraft (e.g. FAST, Polar, Geotail and
Cluster) and the parallel development of new theories
of nonlinear waves provide an opportune occasion for
the fruitful exchange of ideas and information between both communities of
researchers.
Over the last few years
significant progress has been made in satellite observations of wave phenomena
in magnetospheric and solar wind interaction
physics as a result of the successful procurement of
high-time and spatial resolution measurements hitherto unavailable. The FAST,
Polar, Geotail and
Cluster data now provide a
wealth of information which indicate that nonlinear
processes lie behind many space plasma phenomena. Some selected
examples are:
electrostatic solitons on auroral field lines (Mozer et
al., 1997, Ergun et al., 1998) and near the
magnetopause (Cattell et al., 2002).
the so called broad-band electrostatic noise which may
in reality consist of a series of solitary pulses (Picket et al., 2003).
bursts of narrow-band coherent whistler emissions (“lion
roars”) may provide evidence of ”oscillitons” (Sauer
et al., 2002, Dubinin et al., 2003), a new and
remarkable wave structure.
slow mode solitons in the magnetospheric boundary layer (Stasiewitz
et al., 2003).
coherent wave emissions in the form of wave packets in the
multi-ion plasmas that exist in the interaction of the solar wind with planets
(Kivelson et al.,
1996, Mazelle et al., 2002).
At the same time as these
observations have come on stream, theories of fully nonlinear plasma waves-solitons, periodic nonlinear waves, oscillitons
–
have recently been developing (e. g. McKenzie and Doyle,
2001, 2002, McKenzie et al., 2001, Dubinin et al.,
2002, 2003, Sauer et al., 2001, 2002).
The motivation behind such
studies has in past been driven by the excellent observations now available. Of
course the subject of nonlinear waves in
complex plasmas is, in itself, intrinsically interesting and
important. These studies reveal remarkably rich wave structures existing in
different situations.
Therefore we believe it is timeous to bring together both observers and theorists to
study this complex subject, with the purpose of identifying the
underlying processes at work in different space plasma
environments and to collect the information for publication.
Baumgartel K., Astrophysikalisches Institut, Potsdam,
Germany,
e-mail: uk.baumgaertel@t-online.de
Cattell C.,
e-mail:
cattell@fields.space.umn.edu
Dubinin E.,
Max-Planck Institute fur Aeronomie, Lindau
e-mail:
dubinin@linmpi.mpg.de
Ergun R. E.
Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences,
e-mail:
ree@fast.colorado.edu
Fraenz M.,
Max-Planck Institute fur Aeronomie, Lindau
e-mail:
fraenz@linmpi.mpg.de
Hellberg M.,
Department of Physics,
e-mail:
hellberg@nu.ac.za
Mazelle C., CESR, Toulouse, France,
e-mail: christian.mazelle@cesr.fr
McKenzie J. F., Max-Planck Institute fur Aeronomie, Lindau
Germany,
e-mail: mckenzie@linpmi.mpg.de and mckenziej@nu.ac.za
Pickett J. S., Department of Physics & Astronomy,
e-mail:
pickett@uiowa.edu
Pottelette R., CETP, France,
e-mail: raymond.pottelette@cetp.ipsl.fr
Sauer K., Max-Planck Institute fur Aeronomie, Lindau
e-mail:
sauer@linmpi.mpg.de
Scholer M.,
Centre for Interdisciplinary Plasma Science,
e-mail: mbs@mpe.mpg.de
Shukla P.
University
Stasiewitz K., Swedish
e-mail:
ks@irfu.se
Tsurutani B., JPL, California, USA,
e-mail: bruce.t.tsurutani@jpl.nasa.gov
Verheest F. ,
e-mail:
frank.verheest@UGent.be
Zank G.,
IGPP,
e-mail:
zank@citrus.ucr.edu
From left to right: K. Baumgartel, K.
Sauer, G. Zank, P. Shukla,
E. Dubinin, J. McKenzie, F. Verheest, J. Pickett,
C. Cattell, C. Mazelle,
R. Ergun, K. Stasiewitz, V.
Manno, M. Fraenz