Langmuir waves across the heliosphere

Abstract

All the bodies of the solar system are embedded in the supersonic flux of energetic particles emitted by the Sun. Since the advent of the space age, the models to describe the interaction of this plasma flow with the planets, asteroids, comets etc. have drastically progressed. The possibilities of in situ measurements of the particle distributions and electromagnetic fields have enabled the plasma theories to be tested under astrophysical conditions. Energy transfer from the Sun to the outermost regions of the heliosphere as well as the processes leading to the dissipation of this energy are central questions for heliophysicists. Understanding the dynamics of the particles is thus critical. It is a particularly complicated subject since the medium is (almost) non-collisional. Thus, next to the description of the particles, the development of waves must be considered. Indeed, they participate to the exchange of energy between different species that would not interact otherwise. In other words, waves may play the role of collisions. This paper concentrates on Langmuir waves for their strong links with the electron dynamics. The basic processes of growth and saturation of the Langmuir waves are reviewed to stress their diagnostic capabilities. Then, the characteristics of the waves are described in the several heliophysical contexts: the planetary environments (in particular the ionosphere, the magnetotail and the foreshock) and in the interplanetary medium (in quiescent conditions of the solar wind or during transient events). A particular emphasis is given to results obtained in the last 15 years.