scholarly journals Ballooning instability at the plasma sheet–lobe interface and its implications for polar arc formation

2006 ◽  
Vol 111 (A11) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. V. Golovchanskaya ◽  
A. Kullen ◽  
Y. P. Maltsev ◽  
H. Biernat
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Ballooning Instability

scholarly journals Initiation of ballooning instability in the near-Earth plasma sheet prior to the 23 March 2007 THEMIS substorm expansion onset

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 1129-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Zhu ◽  
J. Raeder ◽  
K. Germaschewski ◽  
C. C. Hegna
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Neutral Line ◽  
Normal Component ◽  
Satellite Observation ◽  
Instability Criterion ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Temporal Domain ◽  
Ballooning Instability ◽  
Onset Timing ◽  
Field Lines

Abstract. In this work, we analyze the ballooning stability of the near-Earth plasma sheet prior to the initial expansion onset of the 23 March 2007 THEMIS substorm event. Using solar wind data from WIND satellite observation for the substorm event as an input at dayside, we reconstructed a sequence of global magnetospheric configurations around the expansion onset by means of OpenGGCM simulation. These simulations have reproduced most of the salient features, including the onset timing, observed in the THEMIS substorm event (Raeder et al., 2008). The ballooning instability criterion is evaluated using eigenvalue analyses for the near-Earth plasma sheet region when the configuration attains a quasi-static equilibrium condition prior to the onset. Our analysis of the evolution of the near-Earth magnetotail region during the substorm growth phase (10:10 UT to 10:43 UT) reveals a correlation between the breaching of the ballooning stability condition and the initial expansion onset in the temporal domain. The analysis indicates that the ballooning instability is at first initiated by the stretching of closed field lines near the region with a local nonzero minimum in normal component of magnetic field (Bz>0) associated with the formation of a bipolar-flow pattern in the near-Earth plasma sheet around 10 RE. The subsequent initiation of ballooning instability with enhanced growth rate occurs (about 28 min later) on those most stretched closed field lines Earthward of the neutral line following the formation and the tailward recession of a plasmoid.

scholarly journals MHD ballooning instability in the plasma sheet

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Z. Cheng ◽  
S. Zaharia
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Ballooning Instability

scholarly journals Alternating bursts of low energy ions and electrons near the substorm onset

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1957-1968 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. V. Kozelova ◽  
L. L. Lazutin ◽  
B. V. Kozelov ◽  
N. Meredith ◽  
M. A. Danielides
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Substorm Onset ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Ballooning Instability ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Low Energy Ions ◽  
Late Growth

Abstract. The substorm associated behavior of the low energy particles (30 eV–28.5 keV) near the earthward edge of the plasma sheet is examined using data from CRRES during the late growth and early expansion phases of a substorm on 12 March 1991 and their significance for the substorm onset mechanism is discussed. In this substorm, the CRRES was located on L ~6.3 and ~20° westward of the substorm onset and observed the sequence of the alternating bursts of the low energy ions and electrons. The bursts of the 0.633–9.6 keV ions occurred 1–2 min before the (7.31–21.7 keV) electron bursts. The first ion burst happened 2min before the substorm onset, at the moment of weak brightening of the most equatorial pre-breakup arc near the latitude ~62°. The alternation of the ion and electron bursts may be a signature of a drift-Alfvén ballooning instability on the inner edge of the plasma sheet near substorm onset.

scholarly journals MHD drift ballooning instability near the inner edge of the near‐Earth plasma sheet and its application to substorm onset

1997 ◽  
Vol 102 (A7) ◽  
pp. 14397-14406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Y. Pu ◽  
A. Korth ◽  
Z. X. Chen ◽  
R. H. W. Friedel ◽  
Q. G. Zong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Substorm Onset ◽  
Ballooning Instability
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