Electron acceleration by lower hybrid waves on auroral field lines

Particle measurements show that electron acceleration on auroral field lines is a statistical, velocity-dependent, process. It is proposed that the process is stochastic acceleration by waves, and demonstrated that lower hybrid waves seen on auroral field lines have the right properties to account for the electron acceleration. It is further shown that the lower hybrid wave power measured on auroral field lines can be generated by the streaming ions observed at the boundary of the plasma sheet, and that this wave power is sufficient to account for the electron power observed close to the atmosphere.