A new electromagnetic two-dimensional guiding center particle in cell (PIC)
code is used to investigate the propagation of an Alfven wave in the perpe
ndicular density gradients that characterize the edges of the auroral densi
ty cavities. It is shown that the wave planes are strongly distorted by the
inhomogeneities of the plasma and that a significant electric field develo
ps in the direction parallel to the background magnetic field during the pr
opagation. This field efficiently accelerates the electrons in the parallel
direction, and the incident wave is thus strongly absorbed. The associated
dissipation rate is sufficiently strong to explain a complete wave absorpt
ion on the density gradients over a fraction of wavelength. The electron pa
rallel acceleration is also characterized. It corresponds to a global paral
lel acceleration of the electron population. These PIC simulations suggest
that the perpendicular density gradients corresponding to the auroral plasm
a cavities play an important role in the auroral particle acceleration.