scholarly journals Average characteristics of the midtail plasma sheet in different dynamic regimes of the magnetosphere

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 2107-2113 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. P. Dmitrieva ◽  
V. A. Sergeev ◽  
M. A. Shukhtina

Abstract. We study average characteristics of plasma sheet convection in the middle tail during different magnetospheric states (Steady Magnetospheric Convection, SMC, and substorms) using simultaneous magnetotail (Geotail, 15-35 RE downtail) and solar wind (Wind spacecraft) observations during 3.5 years. (1) A large data set allowed us to obtain the average values of the plasma sheet magnetic flux transfer rate (Ey and directly compare it with the dayside transfer rate (Emod for different magnetospheric states. The results confirm the magnetic flux imbalance model suggested by Russell and McPherron (1973), namely: during SMC periods the day-to-night flux transport rate equals the global Earthward plasma sheet convection; during the substorm growth phase the plasma sheet convection is suppressed on the average by 40%, whereas during the substorm expansion phase it twice exceeds the day-to-night global flux transfer rate. (2) Different types of substorms were revealed. About 1/3 of all substorms considered displayed very weak growth in the tail lobe magnetic field before the onset. For these events the plasma sheet transport was found to be in a balance with the day-to-night flux transfer, as in the SMC events. However, the lobe magnetic field value in these cases was as large as that in the substorms with a classic growth phase just before the onset (both values exceed the average level of the lobe field during the SMC). Also, in both groups similar configurational changes (magnetic field stretching and plasma sheet thinning) were observed before the substorm onset. (3) Superimposed epoch analysis showed that the plasma sheet during the late substorm recovery phase has the characteristics similar to those found during SMC events, the SMC could be a natural magnetospheric state following the substorm.

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1273-1288 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Grigorenko ◽  
T. M. Burinskaya ◽  
M. Shevelev ◽  
J.-A. Sauvaud ◽  
L. M. Zelenyi

Abstract. We present a comprehensive analysis of magnetic field and plasma data measured in the course of 170 crossings of the lobeward edge of Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer (PSBL) in the Earth's magnetotail by Cluster spacecraft. We found that large-scale fluctuations of the magnetic flux tubes have been registered during intervals of propagation of high velocity field-aligned ions. The observed kink-like oscillations propagate earthward along the main magnetic field with phase velocities of the order of local Alfvén velocity and have typical wavelengths ~5–20 RE, and frequencies of the order of 0.004–0.02 Hz. The oscillations of PSBL magnetic flux tubes are manifested also in a sudden increase of drift velocity of cold lobe ions streaming tailward. Since in the majority of PSBL crossings in our data set, the densities of currents corresponding to electron-ion relative drift have been low, the investigation of Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability in a bounded flow sandwiched between the plasma sheet and the lobe has been performed to analyze its relevance to generation of the observed ultra-low frequency oscillations with wavelengths much larger than the flow width. The calculations have shown that, when plasma conditions are favorable for the excitation of K-H instability at least at one of the flow boundaries, kink-like ultra-low frequency waves, resembling the experimentally observed ones, could become unstable and efficiently develop in the system.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lihui Chai ◽  
James Slavin ◽  
Yong Wei ◽  
Weixing Wan ◽  
Charlie F. Bowers ◽  
...  

<p>The induced magnetotails on Mars and Venus are considered to arise through the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) draping around the planet and the solar wind deceleration due to the mass loading effect. They have very similar structures as that on Earth, two magnetic lobes of opposite radial magnetic fields and a plasma sheet in between. However, the orientation and geometry of the induced magnetotails are controlled by the IMF, not the planetary intrinsic magnetic field. In this study, we present another characteristic of the induced magnetotails on Mars and Venus with the observations of MAVEN and Venus Express. It is found that the magnetic flux in the induced magnetotails on Mars and Venus are inhomogeneous. There is more magnetic flux in the +E hemisphere than -E hemisphere. The magnetic flux is observed to transport gradually from the +E hemisphere to the -E hemisphere along the magnetotail. The magnetotail magnetic flux transport seems to be faster on Mars than that at Venus. Based on these observations, we suggest that the finite gyro-radius effect of the planetary ions that are picked up by the solar wind is responsible to the magnetic flux inhomogeneity and transport in the induced magnetotails. The role of the magnetic pressure gradient in the magnetotail will be discussed.</p>


1982 ◽  
Vol 87 (A4) ◽  
pp. 2159 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Paschmann ◽  
G. Haerendel ◽  
I. Papamastorakis ◽  
N. Sckopke ◽  
S. J. Bame ◽  
...  

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 1145-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Verkhoglyadova ◽  
A. Agapitov ◽  
A. Andrushchenko ◽  
V. Ivchenko ◽  
S. Romanov ◽  
...  

Abstract. Compressional waves with periods greater than 2 min (about 10-30 min) at low geomagnetic latitudes, namely compressional Pc5 waves, are studied. The data set obtained with magnetometer MIF-M and plasma analyzer instrument CORALL on board the Interball-1 are analyzed. Measurements performed in October 1995 and October 1996 in the dawn plasma sheet at -30 RE ≤ XGSM and |ZGSM| ≤ 10 RE are considered. Anti-phase variations of magnetic field and ion plasma pressures are analyzed by searching for morphological similarities in the two time series. It is found that longitudinal and transverse magnetic field variations with respect to the background magnetic field are of the same order of magnitude. Plasma velocities are processed for each time period of the local dissimilarity in the pressure time series. Velocity disturbances occur mainly transversely to the local field line. The data reveal the rotation of the velocity vector. Because of the field line curvature, there is no fixed position of the rotational plane in the space. These vortices are localized in the regions of anti-phase variations of the magnetic field and plasma pressures, and the vortical flows are associated with the compressional Pc5 wave process. A theoretical model is proposed to explain the main features of the nonlinear wave processes. Our main goal is to study coupling of drift Alfven wave and magnetosonic wave in a warm inhomogeneous plasma. A vortex is the partial solution of the set of the equations when the compression is neglected. A compression effect gives rise to a nonlinear soliton-like solution.Key words. Magnetosphere physics (magnetotail) · Space plasma physics (kinetic and MHD theory; non-linear phenomena)


1983 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 273-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.R. Sheeley ◽  
J.P. Boris ◽  
T.R. Young ◽  
C.R. DeVore ◽  
K.L. Harvey

A computational model, based on diffusion, differential rotation, and meridional circulation, has been developed to simulate the transport of magnetic flux on the Sun. Using Kitt Peak magnetograms as input, we have determined a best-fit diffusion constant by comparing the computed and observed fields at later times. Our value of 730 ± 250 km2/s is consistent with Leighton's (1964) estimate of 770–1540 km2/s and is significantly larger than Mosher's (1977) estimate of 200–400 km2/s. This suggests that diffusion may be fast enough to account for the observed polar magnetic field reversal without requiring a significant assist from meridional currents.


2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S259) ◽  
pp. 243-246
Author(s):  
G. A. Guerrero ◽  
E. M. de Gouveia Dal Pino ◽  
M. Dikpati

AbstractThe effects of turbulent pumping and η-quenching on Babcock-Leighton dynamo models are explored separately. Turbulent pumping seems to be important to solve several reported problems in these dynamo models related to the magnetic flux transport and to the parity. On the other hand, the suppression of the magnetic diffusivity, η, could help in the formation of long-lived, small and intense structures of toroidal magnetic field.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1917-1925 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Vaivads ◽  
A. Retinò ◽  
Yu. V. Khotyaintsev ◽  
M. André

Abstract. We study one event of reconnection onset associated to a small substorm on 27 September 2006 by using Cluster observations at inter-spacecraft separation of about 10 000 km. We focus on the acceleration of suprathermal electrons during different stages of reconnection. We show that several distinct stages of acceleration occur: (1) moderate acceleration during reconnection of pre-existing plasma sheet flux tubes, (2) stronger acceleration during reconnection of lobe flux tubes, (3) production of the most energetic electrons within dipolarization fronts (magnetic pile-up regions). The strongest acceleration is reached at the location of Bz maxima inside the magnetic pile-up region where the reconnection jet stops. Very strong localized dawn-dusk electric field are observed within the magnetic pile-up regions and are associated to most of the magnetic flux transport.


1988 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 525-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerd-Hannes Voigt

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the MHD equilibrium theory can be used to describe the global magnetic field configuration of Earth's magnetosphere and its time evolution under the influence of magnetospheric convection. The MHD equilibrium theory represents magneto-hydrodynamics in the slow-flow approximation. In this approximation time scales are long compared to typical Alfvén wave travel times, and plasma flow velocities are small compared to the Alfvén speed. Under those conditions, the inertial term ρ(dv/dt) in the MHD equation of motion is a small second order term which can be neglected. The MHD equilibrium theory is not a static theory, though, because time derivatives and flow velocities remain first order quantities in the continuity equation, in the thermodynamic equation of state, and in the induction equation. Therefore one can compute slowly time-dependent processes, such as magnetospheric convection, in terms of series of static equilibrium states. However, those series are not arbitrary; they are constrained by thermodynamic conditions according to which the magnetosphere evolves in time.It is an interesting question, whether or not the magnetosphere, driven by slow, lossless, adiabatic, earthward convection of magnetotail flux tubes, can reach a steady state. There exist magnetospheric equilibria in which magnetotail flux tubes satisfy the steady-state condition d/dt (Pρ−γ) = 0. Those configurations exhibit a deep magnetic field minimum in the equatorial plane, near the inner edge of the tail plasma sheet. The magnetosphere becomes tearing-mode unstable in the neighborhood of such a minimum, thus leading to periodic onsets of substorms in the inner plasma sheet. This explains why distinct magnetic field minima have not been observed in this region. Magnetic substorms seem to be an inevitable element of the global convection cycle which inhibit the establishment of an ultimate steady state.MHD equilibria discussed in this paper result from linear and non-linear solutions to the two-dimensional Grad-Shafranov equation for isotropic thermal plasma pressure.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 619-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Connors ◽  
C. T. Russell ◽  
V. Angelopoulos

Abstract. At approximately 08:25 UT on 5 April 2010, a CME-driven shock compressed Earth's magnetosphere and applied about 15 nT of southward IMF for nearly an hour. A substorm growth phase and localized dipolarization at 08:47 UT were followed by large dipolarizations at 09:03 UT and 09:08 UT, observed by GOES West (11) in the midnight sector, and by three THEMIS spacecraft near X=−11, Y=−2 RE. A large electric field at the THEMIS spacecraft indicates so much flux transfer to the inner magnetosphere that "overdipolarization" took place at GOES 11. This transfer is consistent with the ground and space magnetic signature of the substorm current wedge. Significant particle injections were also observed. The ensemble of extreme geophysical conditions, never previously observed, is consistent with the Near-Earth Neutral Line interpretation of substorms, and subjected the Galaxy 15 geosynchronous satellite to space weather conditions which appear to have induced a major operational anomaly.


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