Pc1 waves in the system of solar–terrestrial relations: New reflections

This paper is devoted to the beautiful and mysterious Pc1 geoelectromagnetic waves that attract the attention of many researchers all over the world as an essential element of the space physics. It is concluded that in spite of the recent progress in the investigation of Pc1 waves, it is still necessary to make a careful study of some unsettled problems posed in the past. Relevant problems and disputable issues of the physics of Pc1 waves are discussed in this paper. The discussion is started with the paradoxical dependence of the Pc1 wave activity on the solar wind plasma density, which is considered as the key problem. It is argued that the solution of this paradox is of paramount importance to understand the 11-year solar cycle variation of the Pc1 occurrence rate, interplay between Pc1 and oxygen ions in the magnetosphere, impact of interplanetary magnetic field sector boundaries on the Pc1 wave activity, and other similar problems. A schematic picture showing the place of Pc1 waves in the system of solar–terrestrial relations is presented.