scholarly journals Quantitative modelling of the closure of meso-scale parallel currents in the nightside ionosphere

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Marchaudon ◽  
J.-C. Cerisier ◽  
O. Amm ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
C. W. Carlson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Satellite Orbit ◽  
Precipitation Pattern ◽  
Field Gradients ◽  
Southward Shift ◽  
Field Aligned Current ◽  
Electric Field Profile ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents ◽  
Meso Scale

Abstract. On 12 January 2000, during a northward IMF period, two successive conjunctions occur between the CUTLASS SuperDARN radar pair and the two satellites Ørsted and FAST. This situation is used to describe and model the electrodynamic of a nightside meso-scale arc associated with a convection shear. Three field-aligned current sheets, one upward and two downward on both sides, are observed. Based on the measurements of the parallel currents and either the conductance or the electric field profile, a model of the ionospheric current closure is developed along each satellite orbit. This model is one-dimensional, in a first attempt and a two-dimensional model is tested for the Ørsted case. These models allow one to quantify the balance between electric field gradients and ionospheric conductance gradients in the closure of the field-aligned currents. These radar and satellite data are also combined with images from Polar-UVI, allowing for a description of the time evolution of the arc between the two satellite passes. The arc is very dynamic, in spite of quiet solar wind conditions. Periodic enhancements of the convection and of electron precipitation associated with the arc are observed, probably associated with quasi-periodic injections of particles due to reconnection in the magnetotail. Also, a northward shift and a reorganisation of the precipitation pattern are observed, together with a southward shift of the convection shear. Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; electric fields and currents; particle precipitation) – Magnetospheric physics (magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions)

scholarly journals Electric potential differences across auroral generator interfaces

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. De Keyser ◽  
M. Echim
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Electric Potential ◽  
Equilibrium Configuration ◽  
Potential Difference ◽  
Field Profile ◽  
Electric Potential Difference ◽  
Electric Field Profile

Abstract. Strong localized high-altitude auroral electric fields, such as those observed by Cluster, are often associated with magnetospheric interfaces. The type of high-altitude electric field profile (monopolar, bipolar, or more complicated) depends on the properties of the plasmas on either side of the interface, as well as on the total electric potential difference across the structure. The present paper explores the role of this cross-field electric potential difference in the situation where the interface is a tangential discontinuity. A self-consistent Vlasov description is used to determine the equilibrium configuration for different values of the transverse potential difference. A major observation is that there exist limits to the potential difference, beyond which no equilibrium configuration of the interface can be sustained. It is further demonstrated how the plasma densities and temperatures affect the type of electric field profile in the transition, with monopolar electric fields appearing primarily when the temperature contrast is large. These findings strongly support the observed association of monopolar fields with the plasma sheet boundary. The role of shear flow tangent to the interface is also examined.

scholarly journals Transpolar arc evolution and associated potential patterns

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1213-1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Cumnock ◽  
L. G. Blomberg
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Polar Region ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Auroral Emission ◽  
Field Aligned Current ◽  
Auroral Emissions ◽  
Institute Of Technology ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents

Abstract. We present two event studies encompassing detailed relationships between plasma convection, field-aligned current, auroral emission, and particle precipitation boundaries. We illustrate the influence of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field By component on theta aurora development by showing two events during which the theta originates on both the dawn and dusk sides of the auroral oval. Both theta then move across the entire polar region and become part of the opposite side of the auroral oval. Electric and magnetic field and precipitating particle data are provided by DMSP, while the Polar UVI instrument provides measurements of auroral emissions. Utilizing satellite data as inputs, the Royal Institute of Technology model provides the high-latitude ionospheric electrostatic potential pattern calculated at different times during the evolution of the theta aurora, resulting from a variety of field-aligned current configurations associated with the changing global aurora. Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; electric fields and currents). Magnetospheric physics (magnetosphereionosphere interactions)

scholarly journals Non-adiabatic electron behaviour due to short-scale electric field structures at collisionless shock waves

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. See ◽  
R. F. Cameron ◽  
S. J. Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
High Amplitude ◽  
Spatial Distance ◽  
Electric Field Gradients ◽  
Short Scale ◽  
Shock Heating ◽  
Field Gradients ◽  
Particle Simulations ◽  
Electric Field Profile

Abstract. Under sufficiently high electric field gradients, electron behaviour within exactly perpendicular shocks is unstable to the so-called trajectory instability. We extend previous work paying special attention to short-scale, high-amplitude structures as observed within the electric field profile. Via test particle simulations, we show that such structures can cause the electron distribution to heat in a manner that violates conservation of the first adiabatic invariant. This is the case even if the overall shock width is larger than the upstream electron gyroradius. The spatial distance over which these structures occur therefore constitutes a new scale length relevant to the shock heating problem. Furthermore, we find that the spatial location of the short-scale structure is important in determining the total effect of non-adiabatic behaviour – a result that has not been previously noted.

scholarly journals Simultaneous optical, CUTLASS HF radar, and FAST spacecraft observations: signatures of boundary layer processes in the cusp

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 511-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Oksavik ◽  
F. Søraas ◽  
J. Moen ◽  
R. Pfaff ◽  
J. A. Davies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Spectral Width ◽  
Hf Radar ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
Low Energy Electrons ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Auroral Phenomena ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents

Abstract. In this paper we discuss counterstreaming electrons, electric field turbulence, HF radar spectral width enhancements, and field-aligned currents in the southward IMF cusp region. Electric field and particle observations from the FAST spacecraft are compared with CUTLASS Finland spectral width enhancements and ground-based optical data from Svalbard during a meridional crossing of the cusp. The observed 630nm rayed arc (Type-1 cusp aurora) is associated with stepped cusp ion signatures. Simultaneous counterstreaming low-energy electrons on open magnetic field lines lead us to propose that such electrons may be an important source for rayed red arcs through pitch angle scattering in collisions with the upper atmosphere. The observed particle precipitation and electric field turbulence are found to be nearly collocated with the equatorward edge of the optical cusp, in a region where CUTLASS Finland also observed enhanced spectral width. The electric field turbulence is observed to extend far poleward of the optical cusp. The broad-band electric field turbulence corresponds to spatial scale lengths down to 5m. Therefore, we suggest that electric field irregularities are directly responsible for the formation of HF radar backscatter targets and may also explain the observed wide spectra. FAST also encountered two narrow highly structured field-aligned current pairs flowing near the edges of cusp ion steps. Key words. Ionosphere (electric fields and currents). Magnetosphere physics (magnetopause, cusp, and boundary layers; auroral phenomena)

scholarly journals The dawn and dusk electrojet response to substorm onset

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1097-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Borälv ◽  
P. Eglitis ◽  
H. J. Opgenoorth ◽  
E. Donovan ◽  
G. Reeves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Neutral Line ◽  
Substorm Onset ◽  
Model Case ◽  
Onset Timing ◽  
Storms And Substorms ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents ◽  
Substorm Onsets

Abstract. We have investigated the time delay between substorm onset and related reactions in the dawn and dusk ionospheric electrojets, clearly separated from the nightside located substorm current wedge by several hours in MLT. We looked for substorm onsets occurring over Greenland, where the onset was identified by a LANL satellite and DMI magnetometers located on Greenland. With this setup the MARIA magnetometer network was located at dusk, monitoring the eastward electrojet, and the IMAGE chain at dawn, for the westward jet. In the first few minutes following substorm onset, sudden enhancements of the electrojets were identified by looking for rapid changes in magnetograms. These results show that the speed of information transfer between the region of onset and the dawn and dusk ionosphere is very high. A number of events where the reaction seemed to preceed the onset were explained by either unfavorable instrument locations, preventing proper onset timing, or by the inner magnetosphere's reaction to the Earthward fast flows from the near-Earth neutral line model. Case studies with ionospheric coherent (SuperDARN) and incoherent (EISCAT) radars have been performed to see whether a convection-induced electric field or enhanced conductivity is the main agent for the reactions in the electrojets. The results indicate an imposed electric field enhancement.Key words: Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; electric fields and currents) - Magnetospheric physics (storms and substorms)

scholarly journals Auroral E-region electron density height profile modificationby electric field driven vertical plasma transport:some evidence in EISCAT CP-1 data statistics

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 901-910 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Bösinger ◽  
G. C. Hussey ◽  
C. Haldoupis ◽  
K. Schlegel
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Plasma Transport ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Ionosphere Plasma ◽  
E Region ◽  
Eiscat Radar ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents ◽  
Electron Density Profiles

Abstract. A model developed several years ago by Huuskonen et al. (1984) predicted that vertical transport of ions in the nocturnal auroral E-region ionosphere can shift the electron density profiles in altitude during times of sufficiently large electric fields. If the vertical plasma transport effect was to operate over a sufficiently long enough time, then the real height of the E-region electron maximum should be shifted some km upwards (downwards) in the eastward (westward) auroral electrojet, respectively, when the electric field is strong, exceeding, say, 50 mV/m. Motivated by these predictions and the lack of any experimental verification so far, we made use of the large database of the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) radar to investigate if the anticipated vertical plasma transport is at work in the auroral E-region ionosphere and thus to test the Huuskonen et al. (1984) model. For this purpose a new type of EISCAT data display was developed which enabled us to order a large number of electron density height profiles, collected over 16 years of EISCAT operation, according to the electric field magnitude and direction as measured at the same time at the radar's magnetic field line in the F-region. Our analysis shows some signatures in tune with a vertical plasma transport in the auroral E-region of the type predicted by the Huuskonen et al. model. The evidence brought forward is, however, not unambiguous and requires more rigorous analysis. Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; plasma convection; electric fields and currents)

scholarly journals Relation between magnetic fields and electric currents in plasmas

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 2589-2597 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. M. Vasyliunas
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Charged Particles ◽  
Displacement Current ◽  
Plasma Dynamics ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents ◽  
The One ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Abstract. Maxwell's equations allow the magnetic field B to be calculated if the electric current density J is assumed to be completely known as a function of space and time. The charged particles that constitute the current, however, are subject to Newton's laws as well, and J can be changed by forces acting on charged particles. Particularly in plasmas, where the concentration of charged particles is high, the effect of the electromagnetic field calculated from a given J on J itself cannot be ignored. Whereas in ordinary laboratory physics one is accustomed to take J as primary and B as derived from J, it is often asserted that in plasmas B should be viewed as primary and J as derived from B simply as (c/4π)∇×B. Here I investigate the relation between ∇×B and J in the same terms and by the same method as previously applied to the MHD relation between the electric field and the plasma bulk flow vmv2001: assume that one but not the other is present initially, and calculate what happens. The result is that, for configurations with spatial scales much larger than the electron inertial length λe, a given ∇×B produces the corresponding J, while a given J does not produce any ∇×B but disappears instead. The reason for this can be understood by noting that ∇×B≠4π/c)J implies a time-varying electric field (displacement current) which acts to change both terms (in order to bring them toward equality); the changes in the two terms, however, proceed on different time scales, light travel time for B and electron plasma period for J, and clearly the term changing much more slowly is the one that survives. (By definition, the two time scales are equal at λe.) On larger scales, the evolution of B (and hence also of ∇×B) is governed by ∇×E, with E determined by plasma dynamics via the generalized Ohm's law; as illustrative simple examples, I discuss the formation of magnetic drift currents in the magnetosphere and of Pedersen and Hall currents in the ionosphere. Keywords. Ionosphere (Electric fields and currents) – Magnetospheric physics (Magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions) – Space plasma physics (Kinetic and MHD theory)

scholarly journals <i>Letter to the Editor</i>An analogy to the Reynolds number for the neutral gas component of a weak plasma

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-134
Author(s):  
C. M. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Atmospheric Dynamics ◽  
Neutral Particles ◽  
Meteorology And Atmospheric Dynamics ◽  
Neutral Gas ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents ◽  
Induced Velocity ◽  
Gas Component

Abstract. The Reynolds number Re is used as a metric to assess whether or not a flow may contain turbulence. In a weakly ionised gas with an external electric field imposed, ions exert a drag on the neutral particles. Thus, a component of the neutral motion is attributable to the ion-drag. An analogy to Re has been proposed in which the ion-drag-induced velocity contribution to the neutral motion is used. This analogy thus represents the destabilising effect of the electric field on the neutral dynamics. Here quantisation of this proposed metric is investigated.Key words. Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (turbulence) – Ionosphere (ionosphere-atmosphere interactions; electric fields and currents)

scholarly journals Rocket-borne investigation of auroral patches in the evening sector during substorm recovery

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 719-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Danielides ◽  
A. Kozlovsky
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Plasma Flow ◽  
Typical Feature ◽  
The North ◽  
Evening Sector ◽  
Periodical Structure ◽  
S Period ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents ◽  
Auroral Arcs

Abstract. On 11 February 1997 at 08:36 UT after a substorm onset the Auroral Turbulence 2 sounding rocket was launched from Poker Flat Research Range, Alaska into a moderately active auroral region. This experiment has allowed us to investigate evening (21:00 MLT) auroral forms at the substorm recovery, which were discrete multiple auroral arcs stretched to, the east and southeast from the breakup region, and bright auroral patches propagating westward along the arcs like a luminosity wave, which is a typical feature of the disturbed arc. The rocket crossed an auroral arc of about 40 km width, stretched along southeast direction. Auroral patches and associated electric fields formed a 200 km long periodical structure, which propagated along the arc westward at a velocity of 3 km/s, whereas the ionospheric plasma velocity inside the arc was 300 m/s westward. The spatial periodicity in the rocket data was found from optical ground-based observations, from electric field in situ measurements, as well as from ground-based magnetic observations. The bright patches were co-located with equatorward plasma flow across the arc of the order of 200 m/s in magnitude, whereas the plasma flow tended to be poleward at the intervals between the patches, where the electric field reached the magnitude of up to 20 mV/m, and these maxima were co-located with the peaks in electron precipitations indicated by the electron counter on board the rocket. Pulsations of a 70-s period were observed on the ground in the eastern component of the magnetic field and this is consistent with the moving auroral patches and the north-south plasma flows associated with them. The enhanced patch-associated electric field and fast westward propagation suggest essential differences between evening auroral patches and those occurring in the morning ionosphere. We propose the wave that propagates along the plasma sheet boundary to be a promising mechanism for the evening auroral patches.Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; electric fields and currents)

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