Statistical Study of Small-Scale Interplanetary Magnetic Flux Ropes in the Vicinity of the Heliospheric Current Sheet

The small-scale interplanetary magnetic flux ropes (SIMFRs) are common magnetic structures in the interplanetary space, yet their origination is still an open question. In this article, we surveyed 63 SIMFRs found within 6-day window around the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) and investigated their axial direction, as well as the local normal direction of the HCS. Results showed that the majority (48/63) of the SIMFRs were quasi-parallel to the associated HCS (i.e., the axial direction of SIMFRs was quasi-perpendicular to the normal direction of the associated HCS). They also showed that the SIMFRs quasi-parallel to the associated HCS statistically had shorter duration than the cases quasi-perpendicular. The results indicate that most of these SIMFRs may be generated in the nearby HCSs.

Variability of the interplanetary magnetic field as a driver of electromagnetic induction in Mercury’s interior

<p>Mercury’s magnetosphere is a unique and dynamic system, primarily due to the proximity of the planet to the Sun and its small size. Interactions between solar wind and embedded Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) and the dayside Hermean magnetosphere drive an electric current on the system’s magnetopause boundary. So far, electromagnetic induction due to magnetopause motion in response to changing external pressure has been used to constrain Mercury’s iron core size. Here we assess the impact a changing IMF direction has on the Hermean magnetopause currents, and the resulting inducing magnetic field. Observations made by MESSENGER during subsolar magnetopause boundary crossings in the first ‘hot season’, are used to demonstrate the importance of the IMF direction to Mercury’s magnetopause currents. Our 16 boundary crossings show that introduction of external IMFs change the magnetopause current direction by 10° to 100°, compared to the case where only the internal planetary field is considered. Analytical modelling was used to fill in the bigger picture and suggests for an east-west reversal of the IMF, typical of the heliospheric current sheet sweeping over Mercury’s magnetosphere, the inducing field at Mercury’s surface caused by the resulting magnetopause current dynamics is on the order of 10% of the global planetary field. These results suggest that IMF variability alone has an appreciable effect on Mercury’s magnetopause current and generates a significant inducing magnetic field around the planet. The arrival of the BepiColombo mission will allow this response to be further explored as a method of probing Mercury’s interior.</p>

On possible relation of earthquakes with the sign change of the interplanetary magnetic field radial component

This work is devoted to an experimental study of the possible relationship between earthquakes and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) variations. For the analysis, we use world and regional catalogs of earthquakes and a catalog containing data on the IMF sector structure for several decades. The main methodological technique consists in a comparative analysis of the occurrence rate of earthquakes on the days when Earth crosses the boundary between IMF sectors with the days when Earth is inside the sector. The sign of the IMF radial component is utilized as an indicator of the events on which the oscillation mode of Earth's magnetosphere depends. The sign reversal signals the probable crossing of the boundary between the IMF sectors by Earth, or, in other words, the crossing of the heliospheric current sheet by Earth. The hypothesis about the relationship between IMF variations and seismic activity is that IMF fluctuations, penetrating into the magnetosphere, excite ULF electromagnetic oscillations in the magnetosphere, which, in principle, can affect the physical processes in upcoming earthquake sources. We have found a weak, but statistically significant relationship between IMF variations and seismic activity. We also consider other IMF parameters that control ultra-low-frequency oscillations of the geomagnetic field.

On possible relation of earthquakes with the sign change of the interplanetary magnetic field radial component

This work is devoted to an experimental study of the possible relationship between earthquakes and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) variations. For the analysis, we use world and regional catalogs of earthquakes and a catalog containing data on the IMF sector structure for several decades. The main methodological technique consists in a comparative analysis of the occurrence rate of earthquakes on the days when Earth crosses the boundary between IMF sectors with the days when Earth is inside the sector. The sign of the IMF radial component is utilized as an indicator of the events on which the oscillation mode of Earth's magnetosphere depends. The sign reversal signals the probable crossing of the boundary between the IMF sectors by Earth, or, in other words, the crossing of the heliospheric current sheet by Earth. The hypothesis about the relationship between IMF variations and seismic activity is that IMF fluctuations, penetrating into the magnetosphere, excite ULF electromagnetic oscillations in the magnetosphere, which, in principle, can affect the physical processes in upcoming earthquake sources. We have found a weak, but statistically significant relationship between IMF variations and seismic activity. We also consider other IMF parameters that control ultra-low-frequency oscillations of the geomagnetic field.

The sheath region of April 2020 magnetic cloud and the associated energetic ions

<p>Acceleration of energetic particles is a fundamental and ubiquitous mechanism in space and astrophysical plasmas. One of the open questions is the role of the sheath region behind the shock in the acceleration process. We analyze observations by Solar Orbiter, BepiColombo and the L1 spacecraft to explore the structure of a coronal mass ejection (CME)-driven sheath and its relation to enhancements of energetic ions that occurred on April 19-20, 2020. Our detailed analysis of the magnetic field, plasma and particle observations show that the enhancements were related to the Heliospheric Current Sheet crossings related to the reconnecting current sheets in the vicinity of the shock and a mini flux rope that was compressed at the leading edge of the CME ejecta. This study highlights the importance of smaller-scale sheath structures for the energization process. These structures likely formed already closer to the Sun and were swept and compressed from the upstream wind past the shock into the sheath. The upcoming observations by the recent missions (Solar Orbiter, Parker Solar Probe and BepiColombo) provide an excellent opportunity to explore further their role.  </p>

Solar Orbiter observations of magnetic Kelvin-Helmholtz waves in the solar wind

<p>The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) is a nonlinear shear-driven instability that develops at the interfaces between shear flows in plasmas. KHI is ubiquitous in plasmas and has been observed in situ at planetary interfaces and at the boundaries of coronal mass ejections in remote-sensing observations. KHI is also expected to develop at flow shear interfaces in the solar wind, but while it was hypothesized to play an important role in the mixing of plasmas and exciting solar wind fluctuations, its direct observation in the solar wind was still lacking. We report first in-situ observations of ongoing KHI in the solar wind using Solar Orbiter during its cruise phase. The KHI is found in a shear layer in the slow solar wind near the Heliospheric Current Sheet. We find that the observed conditions satisfy the KHI onset criterion from linear theory and the steepening of the shear boundary layer is consistent with the development of KH vortices. We further investigate the solar wind source of this event to understand the conditions that support KH growth. In addition, we set up a local MHD simulation using the empirical values to reproduce the observed KHI. This observed KHI in the solar wind provides robust evidence that shear instability develops in the solar wind, with obvious implications in the driving of solar wind fluctuations and turbulence. The reasons for the lack of previous such measurements are also discussed.</p>

Understanding Solar Wind Formation by Identifying the Origins of In Situ Observations

<p>Solar wind formation can be separated into three physical steps – source, release, and acceleration – that each leave distinct observational signatures on plasma parcels.  The Wang-Sheeley-Arge (WSA) model driven by Air Force Data Assimilative Photospheric Flux Transport (ADAPT) time-dependent photospheric field maps now has the ability to connect in situ observations more rigorously to their precise source at the Sun, allowing us to investigate the physical processes involved in solar wind formation.   In this talk, I will highlight my PhD dissertation research in which we use the ADAPT-WSA model to either characterize the solar wind emerging from specific sources, or investigate the formation process of various solar wind populations.  In the first study, we test the well-known inverse relationship between expansion factor (f<sub>s</sub>) and observed solar wind speed (v<sub>obs</sub>) for solar wind that emerges from a large sampling of pseudostreamers, to investigate if field line expansion plays a physical role in accelerating the solar wind from this source region.  We find that there is no correlation between f<sub>s</sub> and v<sub>obs</sub> at pseudostreamer cusps. In the second study, we determine the source locations of the first identified quasiperiodic density structures (PDSs) inside 0.6 au. Our modeling provides confirmation of these events forming via magnetic reconnection both near to and far from the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) – a direct test of the Separatrix-web (S-web) theory of slow solar wind formation.  In the final study, we use our methodology to identify the source regions of the first observations from the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) mission.  Our modeling enabled us to characterize the closest to the Sun observed coronal mass ejection (CME) to date as a streamer blowout.  We close with future ways that ADAPT-WSA can be used to test outstanding questions of solar wind formation.</p>

Role of the heliospheric current sheet in high energy proton transport through modelling of historic GLE events

<p>The influence of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) on the propagation of high energy solar protons is explored using 3D test particle modelling. The test particle model, which includes drift effects, is used to simulate specific past ground level enhancement (GLE) events which cover a range of HCS configurations. For example, the effects of a source location close to and far from the HCS for events both poorly and well-connected to Earth are examined. Similarly, the effect of the Earth’s location relative to the HCS is explored. The modelling is performed for high energy (300-1200 MeV) protons to represent the energetic conditions under which GLEs occur. The derived intensity profiles at 1AU are compared to observations from HEPAD onboard GOES, as well as STEREO (at locations away from Earth) and neutron monitor data. </p>