scholarly journals O<sup>+</sup> transport in the dayside magnetosheath and its dependence on the IMF direction

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Slapak ◽  
H. Nilsson ◽  
L. G. Westerberg ◽  
R. Larsson
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Ion Flux ◽  
Opposite Hemisphere ◽  
Oxygen Ions ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Lobe Reconnection ◽  
Open Magnetic Field ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. Recent studies have shown that the escape of oxygen ions (O+) into the magnetosheath along open magnetic field lines from the terrestrial cusp and mantle is significant. We present a study of how O+ transport in the dayside magnetosheath depends on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) direction. There are clear asymmetries in the O+ flows for southward and northward IMF. The asymmetries can be understood in terms of the different magnetic topologies that arise due to differences in the location of the reconnection site, which depends on the IMF direction. During southward IMF, most of the observed magnetosheath O+ is transported downstream. In contrast, for northward IMF we observe O+ flowing both downstream and equatorward towards the opposite hemisphere. We observe evidence of dual-lobe reconnection occasionally taking place during strong northward IMF conditions, a mechanism that may trap O+ and bring it back into the magnetosphere. Its effect on the overall escape is however small: we estimate the upper limit of trapped O+ to be 5%, a small number considering that ion flux calculations are rough estimates. The total O+ escape flux is higher by about a factor of 2 during times of southward IMF, in agreement with earlier studies of O+ cusp outflow.

scholarly journals Overlapping ion structures in the mid-altitude cusp under northward IMF: signature of dual lobe reconnection?

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Pitout ◽  
C. P. Escoubet ◽  
M. G. G. T. Taylor ◽  
J. Berchem ◽  
A. P. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Opposite Hemisphere ◽  
Cluster Ion ◽  
Low Energy Tail ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Lobe Reconnection ◽  
Cooling Model

Abstract. On some rare occasions, data from the Cluster Ion Spectrometer (CIS) in the mid-altitude cusp reveal overlapping ion populations under northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). While the poleward part of the cusp exhibits the expected reverse dispersion due to lobe reconnection, its equatorward part shows a second ion population at higher-energy that coexists with the low energy tail of the dispersion. This second population is either dispersionless or slightly dispersed with energies increasing with increasing latitudes, indicative of lobe reconnection as well. Our analysis of a case that occurred 3 September 2002 when the IMF stayed northward for more than two hours suggests that the second population comes from the opposite hemisphere and is very likely on newly-closed field lines. We interpret this overlap of cusp populations as a clear mid-altitude signature of re-closed magnetic field lines by double lobe reconnection (reconnection in both hemispheres) under northward IMF. This interpretation is supported by modelling performed with the Cooling model and an MHD model.

scholarly journals Hybrid-Vlasov simulation of auroral proton precipitation in the cusps: Comparison of northward and southward interplanetary magnetic field driving

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime Grandin ◽  
Lucile Turc ◽  
Markus Battarbee ◽  
Urs Ganse ◽  
Andreas Johlander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Geomagnetic Latitude ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Lower Latitude ◽  
Magnetic Field Direction ◽  
Opposite Hemisphere ◽  
Proton Precipitation ◽  
Reconnection Site ◽  
Lobe Reconnection

&lt;p&gt;We present the first hybrid-Vlasov simulations of proton precipitation in the polar cusps. We use two runs from the Vlasiator model to compare cusp proton precipitation fluxes during southward and northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) driving. The simulations reproduce well-known features of cusp precipitation, such as a reverse dispersion of precipitating proton energies, with proton energies increasing with increasing geomagnetic latitude under northward IMF driving, and a nonreversed dispersion under southward IMF driving. The cusp location is also found more poleward in the northward IMF simulation than in the southward IMF simulation. In addition, we find that the precipitation takes place in the form of successive bursts during southward IMF driving, those bursts being associated with the transit of flux transfer events in the vicinity of the cusp. In the northward IMF simulation, dual lobe reconnection takes place. As a consequence, in addition to the high-latitude precipitation footprint associated with the lobe reconnection from the same hemisphere, we observe lower-latitude precipitating protons which originate from the opposite hemisphere&amp;#8217;s lobe reconnection site. The proton velocity distribution functions along the newly closed dayside magnetic field lines exhibit multiple proton beams travelling parallel and antiparallel to the magnetic field direction, which is consistent with observations with the Cluster spacecraft. We suggest that precipitating protons originating from the opposite hemisphere&amp;#8217;s lobe reconnection site, albeit infrequent, could be observed in a situation of dual lobe reconnection.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals The auroral and ionospheric flow signatures of dual lobe reconnection

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 3115-3129 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Imber ◽  
S. E. Milan ◽  
B. Hubert
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Line ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Closed Field Line ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Lobe Reconnection ◽  
Northern And Southern Hemispheres

Abstract. We present the first substantial evidence for the occurrence of dual lobe reconnection from ionospheric flows and auroral signatures. The process of dual lobe reconnection refers to an interplanetary magnetic field line reconnecting with lobe field lines in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Two bursts of sunward plasma flow across the noon portion of the open/closed field line boundary (OCB), indicating magnetic flux closure at the dayside, were observed in SuperDARN radar data during a period of strongly northward IMF. The OCB is identified from spacecraft, radar backscatter, and auroral observations. In order for dual lobe reconnection to take place, we estimate that the interplanetary magnetic field clock angle must be within ±10° of zero (North). The total flux crossing the OCB during each burst is small (1.8% and 0.6% of the flux contained within the polar cap for the two flows). A brightening of the noon portion of the northern auroral oval was observed as the clock angle passed through zero, and is thought to be due to enhanced precipitating particle fluxes due to the occurrence of reconnection at two locations along the field line. The number of solar wind protons captured by the flux closure process was estimated to be ~2.5×1030 (4 tonnes by mass), sufficient to populate the cold, dense plasma sheet observed following this interval.

scholarly journals Interplanetary magnetic field control of Saturn's polar cusp aurora

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1405-1431 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Bunce ◽  
S. W. H. Cowley ◽  
S. E. Milan
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Line ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Vortical Flows ◽  
Dayside Magnetopause ◽  
Closed Field Line ◽  
Lobe Reconnection

Abstract. Dayside UV emissions in Saturn's polar ionosphere have been suggested to be the first observational evidence of the kronian "cusp" (Gérard et al., 2004). The emission has two distinct states. The first is a bright arc-like feature located in the pre-noon sector, and the second is a more diffuse "spot" of aurora which lies poleward of the general location of the main auroral oval, which may be related to different upstream interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientations. Here we take up the suggestion that these emissions correspond to the cusp. However, direct precipitation of electrons in the cusp regions is not capable of producing significant UV aurora. We have therefore investigated the possibility that the observed UV emissions are associated with reconnection occurring at the dayside magnetopause, possibly pulsed, akin to flux transfer events seen at the Earth. We devise a conceptual model of pulsed reconnection at the low-latitude dayside magnetopause for the case of northwards IMF which will give rise to pulsed twin-vortical flows in the magnetosphere and ionosphere in the vicinity of the open-closed field-line boundary, and hence to bi-polar field-aligned currents centred in the vortical flows. During intervals of high-latitude lobe reconnection for southward IMF, we also expect to have pulsed twin-vortical flows and corresponding bi-polar field-aligned currents. The vortical flows in this case, however, are displaced poleward of the open-closed field line boundary, and are reversed in sense, such that the field-aligned currents are also reversed. For both cases of northward and southward IMF we have also for the first time included the effects associated with the IMF By effect. We also include the modulation introduced by the structured nature of the solar wind and IMF at Saturn's orbit by developing "slow" and "fast" flow models corresponding to intermediate and high strength IMF respectively. We then consider the conditions under which the plasma populations appropriate to either sub-solar reconnection or high-latitude lobe reconnection can carry the currents indicated. We have estimated the field-aligned voltages required, the resulting precipitating particle energy fluxes, and the consequent auroral output. Overall our model of pulsed reconnection under conditions of northwards and southwards IMF, and for varying orientations of IMF By, is found to produce a range of UV emission intensities and geometries which is in good agreement with the data presented by Gérard et al. (2004). The recent HST-Cassini solar wind campaign provides a unique opportunity to test the theoretical ideas presented here.

scholarly journals Magnetopause energy transfer dependence on the interplanetary magnetic field and the Earth's magnetic dipole axis orientation

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Palmroth ◽  
R. C. Fear ◽  
I. Honkonen
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Energy Transfer ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Seasonal Effect ◽  
Dipole Orientation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Axis Orientation ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. We examine the spatial variation of magnetospheric energy transfer using a global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation (GUMICS-4) and a large data set of flux transfer events (FTEs) observed by the Cluster spacecraft. Our main purpose is to investigate whether it is possible to validate previous results on the spatial energy transfer variation from the GUMICS-4 simulation using the statistical occurrence of FTEs, which are manifestations of magnetospheric energy transfer. Previous simulation results have suggested that the energy transfer pattern at the magnetopause rotates according to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation, and here we investigate whether a similar rotation is seen in the locations at which FTE signatures are observed. We find that there is qualitative agreement between the simulation and observed statistics, as the peaks in both distributions rotate as a function of the IMF clock angle. However, it is necessary to take into account the modulation of the statistical distribution that is caused by a bias towards in situ FTE signatures being observed in the winter hemisphere (an effect that has previously been predicted and observed in this data set). Taking this seasonal effect into account, the FTE locations support the previous simulation results and confirm the earlier prediction that the energy transfers in the plane of the IMF. In addition, we investigate the effect of the dipole orientation (both the dipole tilt angle and its orientation in the plane perpendicular to the solar wind flow) on the energy transfer spatial distribution. We find that the energy transfer occurs mainly in the summer hemisphere, and that the dayside reconnection region is located asymmetrically about the subsolar position. Finally, we find that the energy transfer is 10% larger at equinox conditions than at solstice, contributing to the discussion concerning the semiannual variation of magnetospheric dynamics (known as "the Russell-McPherron effect").

scholarly journals Interplanetary magnetic field and its possible effects on the mid-latitude ionosphere III

1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Tulunay
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Ionospheric Variability ◽  
Winter Anomaly ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Imf

Using critical frequencies, f0F2 from the Lannion, Slough, Poitiers, Garchy, Dourbes, Rome, Juliusrud, Gibilmanna, Pruhonice, Uppsala, Kaliningrad, Miedzeszyn, Sofia, Athens and Kiev ionosonde stations, the possible effects of the orientation of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) on mid-latitude ionosphere are further investigated. This time, only the southward polarity changes in IMF Bz with seasonal effects were considered. The same method of analysis was employed to facilitate a comparison between the recent results presented here with those which appeared in the preceding papers in the series. That is, the regular diurnal, seasonal and solar cycle variations in the f0F2 data were removed by subtracting the mean of the f0F2 for the same UT on all magnetically quite days (Ap < 6) within 15 days around the IMF Bz turnings (Tulunay, 1994). This last paper also includes the seasonal effects on the ionospheric data. The results confirm that much of the day-to-day variability of the mid-latitude ionosphere may be related to the orientation of the southward IMF Bz , characterized by the ionospheric winter anomaly. Day-to-day ionospheric variability becomes more significant towards higher latitudes.

Collisionless plasma transport mechanisms in stochastic open magnetic field lines in tokamaks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Gu Yoo ◽  
Weixing Wang ◽  
Edward A Startsev ◽  
Chenhao Ma ◽  
S Ethier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Collisionless Plasma ◽  
Plasma Transport ◽  
Transport Mechanisms ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Open Magnetic Field

scholarly journals Plasma convection in the magnetotail lobes: statistical results from Cluster EDI measurements

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2371-2382 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Haaland ◽  
G. Paschmann ◽  
M. Förster ◽  
J. Quinn ◽  
R. Torbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Geomagnetic Disturbance ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Central Plasma ◽  
Strong Convection ◽  
Central Plasma Sheet ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Convection Patterns

Abstract. A major part of the plasma in the Earth's magnetotail is populated through transport of plasma from the solar wind via the magnetotail lobes. In this paper, we present a statistical study of plasma convection in the lobes for different directions of the interplanetary magnetic field and for different geomagnetic disturbance levels. The data set used in this study consists of roughly 340 000 one-minute vector measurements of the plasma convection from the Cluster Electron Drift Instrument (EDI) obtained during the period February 2001 to June 2007. The results show that both convection magnitude and direction are largely controlled by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). For a southward IMF, there is a strong convection towards the central plasma sheet with convection velocities around 10 km s−1. During periods of northward IMF, the lobe convection is almost stagnant. A By dominated IMF causes a rotation of the convection patterns in the tail with an oppositely directed dawn-dusk component of the convection for the northern and southern lobe. Our results also show that there is an overall persistent duskward component, which is most likely a result of conductivity gradients in the footpoints of the magnetic field lines in the ionosphere.

scholarly journals Dynamical Galactic Halos

1993 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 415-419
Author(s):  
D. Breitschwerdt ◽  
H.J. Völk ◽  
V. Ptuskin ◽  
V. Zirakashvili
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
The Other ◽  
Galactic Rotation ◽  
Galactic Halos ◽  
Magnetic Forces ◽  
Dynamical Coupling ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Open Magnetic Field

It is argued that the description of the magnetic field in halos of galaxies should take into account its dynamical coupling to the other major components of the interstellar medium, namely thermal plasma and cosmic rays (CR's). It is then inevitable to have some loss of gas and CR's (galactic wind) provided that there exist some “open” magnetic field lines, facilitating their escape, and a sufficient level of self-generated waves which couple the particles to the gas. We discuss qualitatively the topology of the magnetic field in the halo and show how galactic rotation and magnetic forces can be included in such an outflow picture.

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