Statistical survey of magnetic field and ion velocity fluctuations in the near-Earth plasma sheet: Active Magnetospheric Particle Trace Explorers/Ion Release Module (AMPTE/IRM) measurements

2002 ◽  
Vol 107 (A7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Neagu
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Ion Release ◽  
Velocity Fluctuations ◽  
Particle Trace ◽  
Ion Velocity ◽  
Statistical Survey

scholarly journals On the problem of Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer identification from plasma moments in Earth's magnetotail

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1331-1343 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Grigorenko ◽  
R. Koleva ◽  
J.-A. Sauvaud
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Velocity Distribution ◽  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Bulk Velocity ◽  
Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer ◽  
Plasma Parameters ◽  
Ion Velocity

Abstract. The problem of identification of the interface region between the lobe and the Plasma Sheet (PS) – the Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer (PSBL) – using ion moments and magnetic field data often arises in works devoted to statistical studies of various PSBL phenomena. Our experience in the identification of this region based on the analysis of ion velocity distribution functions demonstrated that plasma parameters, such as the ion density and bulk velocity, the plasma beta or the dynamic pressure vary widely depending on the state of magnetotail activity. For example, while field-aligned beams of accelerated ions are often observed propagating along the lobeward edge of the PSBL there are times when no signatures of these beams could be observed. In the last case, a spacecraft moving from the lobe region to the PS registers almost isotropic PS-like ion velocity distribution. Such events may be classified as observations of the outer PS region. In this paper, we attempt to identify ion parameter ranges or their combinations that result in a clear distinction between the lobe, the PSBL and the adjacent PS or the outer PS regions. For this we used 100 crossings of the lobe-PSBL-PS regions by Cluster spacecraft (s/c) made in different periods of magnetotail activity. By eye inspection of the ion distribution functions we first identify and separate the lobe, the PSBL and the adjacent PS or outer PS regions and then perform a statistical study of plasma and magnetic field parameters in these regions. We found that the best results in the identification of the lobe-PSBL boundary are reached when one uses plasma moments, namely the ion bulk velocity and density calculated not for the entire energy range, but for the energies higher than 2 keV. In addition, we demonstrate that in many cases the plasma beta fails to correctly identify and separate the PSBL and the adjacent PS or the outer PS regions.

scholarly journals Decay of turbulence in a liquid metal duct flow with transverse magnetic field

2019 ◽  
Vol 867 ◽  
pp. 661-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg Zikanov ◽  
Dmitry Krasnov ◽  
Thomas Boeck ◽  
Semion Sukoriansky
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Transverse Magnetic Field ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
High Amplitude ◽  
Transverse Magnetic ◽  
Duct Flow ◽  
Velocity Fluctuations ◽  
Turbulence Decay ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Typical Length

Decay of honeycomb-generated turbulence in a duct with a static transverse magnetic field is studied via direct numerical simulations. The simulations follow the revealing experimental study of Sukoriansky et al. (Exp. Fluids, vol. 4 (1), 1986, pp. 11–16), in particular the paradoxical observation of high-amplitude velocity fluctuations, which exist in the downstream portion of the flow when the strong transverse magnetic field is imposed in the entire duct including the honeycomb exit, but not in other configurations. It is shown that the fluctuations are caused by the large-scale quasi-two-dimensional structures forming in the flow at the initial stages of the decay and surviving the magnetic suppression. Statistical turbulence properties, such as the energy decay curves, two-point correlations and typical length scales are computed. The study demonstrates that turbulence decay in the presence of a magnetic field is a complex phenomenon critically depending on the state of the flow at the moment the field is introduced.

scholarly journals Magnetic field configuration and field-aligned acceleration of energetic ions during substorm onsets

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 1089-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Korth ◽  
Z. Y. Pu
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Field Configuration ◽  
Local Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics ◽  
Night Side ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Synchronous Orbit ◽  
Substorm Onsets

Abstract. In this paper, we present an interpretation of the observed field-aligned acceleration events measured by GEOS-2 near the night-side synchronous orbit at substorm onsets (Chen et al., 2000). We show that field-aligned acceleration of ions (with pitch angle asymmetry) is closely related to strong short-lived electric fields in the Ey direction. The acceleration is associated with either rapid dipolarization or further stretching of local magnetic field lines. Theoretical analysis suggests that a centrifugal mechanism is a likely candidate for the parallel energization. Equatorward or anti-equatorward energization occurs when the tail current sheet is thinner tailward or earthward of the spacecraft, respectively. The magnetic field topology leading to anti-equatorward energization corresponds to a situation where the near-Earth tail undergoes further compression and the inner edge of the plasma sheet extends inwards as close as the night-side geosynchronous altitudes.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (magnetospheric configuration and dynamics; plasma sheet; storms and sub-storms)

Effects of Magnetic Field and Ion Velocity on SPT Plasma Sheath Characteristics

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-167
Author(s):  
Ping Duan ◽  
Xinwei Zhou ◽  
Yuan Liu ◽  
Anning Cao ◽  
Haijuan Qin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Plasma Sheath ◽  
Ion Velocity

scholarly journals Compressional wave events in the dawn plasma sheet observed by Interball-1

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 1145-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Verkhoglyadova ◽  
A. Agapitov ◽  
A. Andrushchenko ◽  
V. Ivchenko ◽  
S. Romanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Field Line ◽  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Inhomogeneous Plasma ◽  
Partial Solution ◽  
Alfven Wave ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Background Magnetic Field ◽  
Phase Variations

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)

Survey of Jupiter’s Plasma Disk from Juno Observations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fran Bagenal ◽  
Ezra Huscher ◽  
Robert Wilson ◽  
Frederic Allegrini ◽  
Robert Ebert
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Strength ◽  
Magnetic Field Strength ◽  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Radial Distance ◽  
Regular Structure ◽  
Plasma Properties ◽  
Density Distributions ◽  
Jovian System ◽  
Structure Density

<p>Using 30 inbound passes through the Jovian system, we combine measurements from the fields and particles instruments on the Juno spacecraft to survey the properties of Jupiter's plasma disk. Juno's orbit is particularly useful for exploring the variation in plasma conditions with latitude as well as radial distance (from ~10 to ~50 RJ). We present basic plasma properties (composition, density, temperature, velocity, magnetic field strength) to make maps of the plasma environment. Also show that on some of the 53-day orbits the plasma sheet has regular structure (density having roughly Gaussian distribution with latitude and decreasing with distance) but there are also highly irregular orbits with low or erratic density distributions.</p>

scholarly journals Ion velocity distributions within the LLBL and their possible implication to multiple reconnections

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. L. Vaisberg ◽  
L. A. Avanov ◽  
T. E. Moore ◽  
V. N. Smirnov
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Flux Tube ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tube ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Subsolar Point ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tubes ◽  
Ion Velocity ◽  
Field Lines

Abstract. We analyze two LLBL crossings made by the Interball-Tail satellite under a southward or variable magnetosheath magnetic field: one crossing on the flank of the magnetosphere, and another one closer to the subsolar point. Three different types of ion velocity distributions within the LLBL are observed: (a) D-shaped distributions, (b) ion velocity distributions consisting of two counter-streaming components of magnetosheath-type, and (c) distributions with three components, one of which has nearly zero parallel velocity and two counter-streaming components. Only the (a) type fits to the single magnetic flux tube formed by reconnection between the magnetospheric and magnetosheath magnetic fields. We argue that two counter-streaming magnetosheath-like ion components observed by Interball within the LLBL cannot be explained by the reflection of the ions from the magnetic mirror deeper within the magnetosphere. Types (b) and (c) ion velocity distributions would form within spiral magnetic flux tubes consisting of a mixture of alternating segments originating from the magnetosheath and from magnetospheric plasma. The shapes of ion velocity distributions and their evolution with decreasing number density in the LLBL indicate that a significant part of the LLBL is located on magnetic field lines of long spiral flux tube islands at the magnetopause, as has been proposed and found to occur in magnetopause simulations. We consider these observations as evidence for multiple reconnection Χ-lines between magnetosheath and magnetospheric flux tubes. Key words. Magnetospheric physics (magnetopause, cusp and boundary layers; solar wind-magnetosphere interactions)

scholarly journals A physical mechanism producing suprathermal populations and initiating substorms in the Earth's magnetotail

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1617-1639 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. V. Sarafopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Physical Mechanism ◽  
Energetic Particles ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Magnetospheric Substorms ◽  
Physical Description ◽  
Fundamental Building Block ◽  
Field Lines

Abstract. We suggest a candidate physical mechanism, combining there dimensional structure and temporal development, which is potentially able to produce suprathermal populations and cross-tail current disruptions in the Earth's plasma sheet. At the core of the proposed process is the "akis" structure; in a thin current sheet (TCS) the stretched (tail-like) magnetic field lines locally terminate into a sharp tip around the tail midplane. At this sharp tip of the TCS, ions become non-adiabatic, while a percentage of electrons are accumulated and trapped: The strong and transient electrostatic electric fields established along the magnetic field lines produce suprathermal populations. In parallel, the tip structure is associated with field aligned and mutually attracted parallel filamentary currents which progressively become more intense and inevitably the structure collapses, and so does the local TCS. The mechanism is observationally based on elementary, almost autonomous and spatiotemporal entities that correspond each to a local thinning/dipolarization pair having duration of ~1 min. Energetic proton and electron populations do not occur simultaneously, and we infer that they are separately accelerated at local thinnings and dipolarizations, respectively. In one example energetic particles are accelerated without any dB/dt variation and before the substorm expansion phase onset. A particular effort is undertaken demonstrating that the proposed acceleration mechanism may explain the plasma sheet ratio Ti/Te≈7. All our inferences are checked by the highest resolution datasets obtained by the Geotail Energetic Particles and Ion Composition (EPIC) instrument. The energetic particles are used as the best diagnostics for the accelerating source. Near Earth (X≈10 RE) selected events support our basic concept. The proposed mechanism seems to reveal a fundamental building block of the substorm phenomenon and may be the basic process/structure, which is now missing, that might help explain the persistent, outstanding deficiencies in our physical description of magnetospheric substorms. The mechanism is tested, checked, and found consistent with substorm associated observations performed ~30 and 60 RE away from Earth.

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