Alfv,n Waves and Their Roles in the Dynamics of the Earth's Magnetotail: A Review

The Earth's magnetotail is an extremely complex system which-energized by the solar wind-displays many phenomena, and Alfv,n waves are essential to its dynamics. While Alfv,n waves were first predicted in the early 1940's and ample observations were later made with rockets and low-altitude satellites, observational evidence of Alfv,n waves in different regions of the extended magnetotail has been sparse until the beginning of the new millennium. Here I provide a phenomenological overview of Alfv,n waves in the magnetotail organized by region-plasmasphere, central plasma sheet, plasma sheet boundary layer, tail lobes, and reconnection region-with an emphasis on spacecraft observations reported in the new millennium that have advanced our understanding concerning the roles of Alfv,n waves in the dynamics of the magnetotail. A brief discussion of the coupling of magnetotail Alfv,n waves and the low-altitude auroral zone is also included.