Dynamics of variable dusk–dawn flow associated with magnetotail current sheet flapping

We present Cluster spacecraft observations from 12 October 2006 of convective plasma flows in the Earth's magnetotail. Earthward flow bursts with a dawnward v⊥y component, observed by Cluster 1 (C1), are inconsistent with the duskward flow that might be expected at the pre-midnight location of the spacecraft. Previous observations have suggested that the dusk–dawn sense of the flow can be governed by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By conditions, with the related “untwisting hypothesis” of magnetotail dynamics commonly invoked to explain this dependence, in terms of a large-scale magnetospheric asymmetry. In the current study, observations of the upstream solar wind conditions from OMNI, magnetic field observations by Cluster and ionospheric convection data using SuperDARN indicate a large-scale magnetospheric morphology consistent with positive IMF By penetration into the magnetotail. At the pre-midnight location of Cluster, however, the dawnward flow observed below the neutral sheet by C1 could only be explained by the untwisting hypothesis in a negative IMF By scenario. The Cluster magnetic field data also reveal a flapping of the magnetotail current sheet, a phenomenon known to influence dusk–dawn flow. Results from the curlometer analysis technique suggest that the dusk–dawn sense of the J×B force was consistent with localised kinks in the magnetic field and the flapping associated with the transient perturbations to the dusk–dawn flow observed by C1. We therefore suggest that the flapping overcame the dusk–dawn sense of the large-scale convection which we would expect to have been net duskward in this case. We conclude that invocation of the untwisting hypothesis may be inappropriate when interpreting intervals of dynamic magnetotail behaviour such as during current sheet flapping, particularly at locations where magnetotail flaring becomes dominant.

Dynamics of Variable Dusk-Dawn Flow Associated with Magnetotail Current Sheet Flapping

Previous observations have provided a clear indication that the dusk-dawn (v⊥y) sense of both slow (< 200 km s−1) and fast (> 200 km s−1) convective magnetotail flows is strongly governed by the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) By conditions. The related “untwisting hypothesis” of magnetotail dynamics is commonly invoked to explain this dependence, in terms of a large-scale magnetospheric asymmetry. In the current study, we present Cluster spacecraft observations from 12 October 2006 of earthward convective magnetotail plasma flows whose dusk-dawn sense disagrees with the untwisting hypothesis of IMF By control of the magnetotail flows. During this interval, observations of the upstream solar wind conditions from OMNI, and ionospheric convection data using SuperDARN, indicate a large-scale magnetospheric morphology consistent with positive IMF By penetration into the magnetotail. Inspection of the in-situ Cluster magnetic field data reveals a flapping of the magnetotail current sheet; a phenomenon known to influence dusk-dawn flow. Results from the curlometer analysis technique suggest that the dusk-dawn flow perturbations may have been driven by the J x B force associated with a dawnward-propagating flapping of the magnetotail current sheet, locally overriding the expected IMF By control of the flows. We conclude that invocation of the untwisting hypothesis may be inappropriate when interpreting intervals of dynamic magnetotail behaviour such as during current sheet flapping.

Earth-like planetary magnetotails as non-linear oscillators

A non-linear oscillator model of a simple system analogous to Earth-like magnetotail plasmoid formation and release dynamics is presented. In this context, Earth-like refers to any magnetosphere with an upstream bow-shock and an elongated downstream tail that undergoes tail plasmoid formation and release. It includes, for the first time in such a model, separate drivers for the Dungey and Vasyliunas Cycles and the capacity to include stochastic and deterministic driving in varying relative and absolute terms. The effects of measurement noise on the model output can also be simulated. This makes the model suitable to investigate the magnetotail dynamics of Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn and hypothetical exoplanets with similar magnetospheric configurations. The capacity to predict, in general terms, the behavior of a wide range of stellar-wind – magnetosphere interactions has become even more important in the light of the discovery of thousands of exoplanets in recent years. This model represents the first step towards being able to make such predictions for a wide variety of cases without resorting to detailed modelling of individual cases. It is demonstrated that the model can exhibit limit cycle (periodic) and chaotic (long-term unpredictable) behavior. The effects of a sufficiently strong dynamical noise component (stochastic driving) are shown to be inherently different from the effects of an equivalent level of simulated observational noise (simulated Gaussian instrument error). The possibilities of chaotic behavior and of dynamical noise dominating the underlying determinism imply that often only short-term forecasting of magnetotail plasmoid formation is possible.

MMS-Cluster conjugate observation of disturbance in the current sheet associated with localized fast flow in the near-Earth magnetotail

&lt;p&gt;We report the evolution of the current sheet associated with a localized flow burst in the near-Earth magnetotail on Sep. 8, 2018 around 14 UT when MMS (Magnetospheric Multiscale) and Cluster at about X=17 RE, separated mainly in the dawn-dusk direction at a distance of about 4 RE, encountered at duskside and dawnside part of a dipolarization front, respectively.&amp;#160; We analyzed the mesoscale current sheet disturbances based on multi-point data analysis between Cluster and MMS. It is shown that the current sheet thickens associated with the passage of the dipolarization front confirming results from previous statistical studies. The thickness of the current sheet, however, decreased subsequently, before recovering toward the original configuration. MMS observed enhanced field aligned currents exclusively during this thinning of the current sheet at the off-equatorial region. Multiple layers of small-scale, intense field-aligned currents accompanied by enhanced Hall-currents were detected at this region.&amp;#160; Based on these mesoscale and microscale multipoint observations, we infer the current structures around the localized flow and discuss the role of these mesoscale flow processes in the larger-scale magnetotail dynamics.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;