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At least 1,171 records · Page 65

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NASA NTRS1983

Hydromagnetic vortices. I - The 11 December 1977 event

Through a synthesis of magnetometer, plasma, energetic particle and electric field data from the ISEE satellite pair, the characteristics of the initial (11 December 1977) magnetotail plasma vortex event reported by Hones et al. (1978), are described. The event is associated with a hot (beta is approximately unity) compressional hydromagnetic wave and apparent vortical motion is seen because at two points in the flow cycle the flow is field-aligned. The behavior of the energetic ions receives special study: when combined with the thermal flow measurements energy dispersion is evident in the field-aligned flow, while the large pitch angle energetic ions reveal the presence of gradients. It is argued that these gradients are wave-induced, and the data are used to determine the perpendicular wave wavelength together with the speed and direction of transverse wave propagation.

Saunders, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A mechanism for plasma waves at the harmonics of the plasma frequency in the electron foreshock boundary

A bump-on-tail unstable reduced velocity distribution, constructed from data obtained at the upstream boundary of the electron foreshock by the GSFC electron spectrometer experiment on the ISEE-1 satellite, is used as the initial plasma state for a numerical integration of the 1D-Vlasov-Maxwell system of equations. The integration is carried through the growth of the instability, beyond its saturation, and well into the stabilized plasma regime. A power spectrum computed for the electric field of the stabilized plasma is dominated by a narrow peak at the Bohm-Gross frequency of the unstable field mode but also contains significant power at the harmonics of the Bohm-Gross frequency. The harmonic power is in sharp peaks which are split into closely spaced doublets. The fundamental peak at the Bohm-Gross frequency is split into a closely spaced triplet. The mechanism for excitation of the second harmonic is shown to be second order wave-wave coupling. Previously announced in STAR as N83-17315

Klimas, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A case study of the response of the magnetosphere to changes in the interplanetary medium

A detailed analysis of world-wide ground based magnetometer data is presented, together with information on the plasma and magnetic field properties of the interplanetary medium and magnetosheath obtained from the ISEE 1 and 2 and IMP 8 spacecraft. The event concerned exhibited an interval of relatively stable southward IMF followed by a sharp northward turning. It is pointed out that during the interval of southward IMF there were occasional transient northward turnings with significant substorm expansive phase activity appearing to be triggered by these transient northward turnings. The final northward turning of the IMF was linked with an episode of strong magnetospheric substorm expansive phase activity after which the level of high latitude magnetic activity declined to a low level. Evidence is presented indicating that the driven system auroral electrojets begin to decay at the time of the northward turning of the IMF, even as the substorm expansive phase activity is initiated in the midnight sector. The collapse of the substorm current wedge during the final decay of high latitude activity is described in some detail, and it is shown that this collapse occurs progressively from east to west in a series of impulsive episodes.

Rostoker, G.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Determination of solar wind elemental abundances from M/Q observations during three periods in 1980

Mass spectra in the M/Q range from 2 to 3, provided by a high-resolution mode of the ISEE-3 Plasma Composition Experiment, were evaluated for three selected periods during early 1980. The observed Ne/O ratios are compatible with estimated solar abundance ratios. In two of the three periods, the He/Ne-ratios agree with the Apollo foil results. Freezing-in temperatures for oxygen are similar to those obtained by other groups. Possible reasons for an unexpectedly high flux at M/Q = 2.4 are discussed.

Kunz, S.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Electron velocity distributions near interplantary shocks

Previous work on electron heating mechanisms operating at the supercritical earth's bow shock is extended to the generally lower Mach number interplanetary shocks. This is done by studying electron velocity distributions observed both upstream and downstream of interplanetary shocks observed by ISEE 3 between August 1978 and December 1979. It is found that perpendicular heating accompanied by little or no parallel heating occurs at the weaker shocks but that parallel heating is dominant for the stronger shocks. When perpendicular heating is dominant, downstream velocity distributions are for the most part Gaussian at low energies (core) and Lorentzian at high energies (halo). When parallel heating is dominant, however, these distributions are flat-topped at low energies, having power law extensions to higher energies. At the weaker shocks, the observations are consistent with electron heating resulting from conservation of the magnetic moment, whereas at the stronger shocks the heating is quite similar to that observed at the earth's bow shock.

Feldman, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Field-aligned ion beams upstream of the earth's bow shock Evidence for a magnetosheath source

High time resolution ISEE-1 and -2 observations of upstream field-aligned ion beams at several crossings of the earth's bow shock indicate that some beams are due to high energy magnetosheath particles leaking through the shock into the upstream region. The distribution immediately downstream of these oblique shocks consists of a 'core' of directly transmitted, slightly heated ions, plus a crescent-shaped, high-velocity distribution, centered roughly on the magnetic field in the direction toward the upstream region, with a fairly well defined low velocity cutoff.

Thomsen, M. F.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Short wavelength ion waves upstream of the earth's bow shock

The identification and explanation of short wavelength antenna interference effects observed in spacecraft plasma wave data have provided an important new method of determining limits on the wavelength, direction of propagation, and Doppler shift of short wavelength electrostatic waves. Using the ISEE-1 wideband electric field data, antenna interference effects have been identified in the ion waves upstream of the earth's bow shock. This identification implies that wavelengths of the upstream ion waves are shorter than the antenna length. The interference effects also provide new measurements of the direction of propagation of the ion waves. The new measurements show that the wave vectors of the ion waves are not parallel to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) as previously reported. The direction of propagation does not appear to be controlled by the IMF. In addition, analysis of the Doppler shift of the short wavelength ion waves has provided a measurement of the dispersion relation. The upper limit of the rest frame frequency was found to be on the order of the ion plasma frequency. At this frequency, the wavelength is on the order of a few times the Debye length. The results of this study now provide strong evidence that the ion waves in the upstream region are Doppler-shifted ion acoustic waves. Previously announced in STAR as N83-36328

Fuselier, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Whistler mode turbulence generated by electron beams in earth's bow shock

The Landau and cyclotron growth rates of whistler mode waves in the earth's bow shock are calculated by using electron distribution functions obtained with the fast plasma experiment on ISEE 2. Three electron distribution functions measured within the transition region of the shock are analyzed. These functions spontaneously generate whistler mode waves with plasma rest frame frequencies between about 0.1 and 100 Hz. The wave normal angles of the generated whistlers range from 0 deg to the resonance cone angle. Electromagnetic Landau resonance and/or cyclotron resonance contribute to wave growth over the range of observed velocity distributions. Waves generated by the normal cyclotron resonance have wave vectors directed toward the solar wind, while those generated by the Landau and the anomalous cyclotron resonances have vectors directed toward the magnetosheath. The preditions of the study are in qualitative agreement with observations of whistler mode waves near the earth's bow shock.

Tokar, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The magnetopause as a tangential discontinuity for large field rotation angles

Three passes of the ISEE 1 and 2 satellites through the dayside terrestrial magnetopause are discussed where the magnetopause is identified as a tangential discontinuity. This identification is based primarily on the failure of the plasma and magnetic field data to satisfy the conditions for a rotational discontinuity. In all these cases the interplanetary magnetic field was directed strongly southward and the angles between the fields on the two sides of the magnetopause ranged between 136 deg and 170 deg. As this is precisely the field geometry thought to be most conducive for reconnection, the magnetopause would be expected to be a rotational discontinuity. The simplest explanation of this result would appear to be that the magnetic field orientation is not the only factor controlling the onset of reconnection. However, as the identification of the discontinuity applies only locally, it cannot be excluded that for the magnetic field conditions investigated here, different portions of the magnetopause can be described as tangential and rotational discontinuities simultaneously.

Papamastorakis, I.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The GLE-associated flare of 21 August, 1979

A variety of ground-based and satellite measurements is to identify the source of the ground level event (GLE) beginning near 06:30 UT on 21 August, 1979 as the 2B flare with maximum at about 06:15 UT in McMath region 16218. This flare differed from previous GLE-associated flares in that it lacked a prominent impulsive phase, having a peak about 9 GHz burst flux density of only 27 sfu and a greater than 10 keV peak hard X-ray flux of less than about 3 x 10 to the -6th ergs/sq cm/s. Also, McMath 16218 was magnetically less complex than the active regions in which previous cosmic-ray flares have occurred, containing essentially only a single sunspot with a rudimentary penumbra. The flare was associated with a high speed mass ejection observed by the NRL white light coronagraph aboard P78-1 and a shock accelerated (SA) event observed by the low frequency radio astronomy experiment on ISEE-3.

Cliver, E. W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The inner edge of the plasma sheet and the diffuse aurora

Three dimensional measurements from the ISEE-1 low energy electron spectrometer are used to map the location of the inner edge of the plasma sheet and study the anisotropies in the electron distribution function associated with this boundary. Lower energy plasma sheet electrons have inner edges closer to the earth than higher energies with the separations at different energies being larger near dawn and after dusk than at midnight. Lowest energy inner edges are frequently located adjacent to the plasmapause in the dawn hemisphere but are often separated from it in the dusk hemisphere by a gap of at least several Re. The energy dispersion is minimal in the afternoon quadrant where the inner edge is near the magnetopause and frequently oscillating on a time scale of minutes. The location of the inner edge is probably determined primarily by the motion of electrons in the existing electric and magnetic fields rather than by strong diffusion as has sometimes been supposed. Previously announced in STAR as N83-32595

Fairfield, D. H.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A statistical study of interplanetary shock associated proton intensity increases

Large intensity increases of low-energy protons are frequently observed in connection with interplanetary forward shocks. Essentially two different particle acceleration mechanisms to explain these 'ESP events' are presently under discussion. To find out which is the dominant process for particle acceleration a large number of these events observed on ISEE-3 was analyzed. The events with the highest fluxes of 35-56 keV protons are associated with shocks which are quasi-parallel and originate close to the central meridian of the sun, and it is concluded that they are produced by a first order Fermi acceleration process.

Reinhard, R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Flux transfer events - Scale size and interior structure

The first direct investigation of the spatial properties of flux transfer events (FTEs) at the earth's dayside magnetopause are reported. Simultaneous magnetometer and plasma data from the ISEE 1 and 2 satellites are combined to show that magnetosheath FTEs can have a scale size of the order of an earth radius in the magnetopause normal direction. It is confirmed that the magnetic field within the events appears to be twisted, this twisting corresponding to a core field-aligned current of a magnitude of a few tens of thousands of A. Also shown is evidence for plasma vorticity in FTEs. The transverse flow and field perturbations accompanying the three events studied obey approximately the Walen relation for a propagating Alfven wave.

Saunders, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Electric field evidence on the viscous interaction at the magnetopause

Dusk-to-dawn electric fields just inside the magnetospause have been suggested to be the products of either a viscous interaction or other processes occurring in a closed magnetosphere. Attention is accordingly given to electric field measurements conducted during 28 crossings of the magnetopause by the ISEE 1 satellite, within 2 hours of local dusk, in 1980. Although dusk-to-dawn fields containing potentials of a few kV were often observed, it is concluded that less than 10 percent of the typical magnetospheric potential resulted from viscous interaction or similar processes.

Mozer, F. S.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The plasma sheet boundary layer

A spatially distinct, temporally variable, transition region between the magnetotail lobes and the central plasma sheet designated the plasma sheet boundary layer has been identified from a survey of particle spectra and three-dimensional distributions as sampled by the ISEE 1 LEPEDEA. The instrumentation and data presentation are described, and the signatures of the magnetotail plasma regimes are presented and discussed for the central plasma sheet and lobe and the plasma sheet boundary layer. Comparisons of plasma parameters and distribution fucntions are made and the evolution of ion velocity distributions within the plasma sheet boundary layer is discussed. The spatial distribution of the plasma sheet boundary layer is considered and ion composition measurements are presented.

Eastman, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The structure of the plasma sheet-lobe boundary in the earth's magnetotail

The structure of the magnetotail plasma sheet-plasma lobe boundary was studied by observing the properties of tailward flowing O+ ion beams, detected by the ISEE 2 plasma experiment inside the boundary during three time periods. The computed value of the north-south electric field component as well as the O+ parameters are shown to change at the boundary. The results are related to other observations made in this region. The O+ parameters and the Ez component behavior are shown to be consistent with that expected from the topology of the electric field lines in the tail as mapped from the ionosphere. Previously announced in STAR as N84-13049

Orsini, S.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Average flow between about 70 and 220 earth radii in the geomagnetic tail

A detailed statistical analysis is made of the flow magnitude and direction in the geomagnetic tail between about 70 and 220 earth radii derived from suprathermal protons measured with the ultra-low energy charge analyzer on the ISEE-3 spacecraft. It is found that the average tailward flow velocity between 203 and 220 earth radii is 567 km/s, and earthward flow occurs in less than 1 percent of all the cases. At a radial distance of 117 and 153 earth radii, the result is similar: the average tailward flow velocity is 665 km/s, and the earthward flow occurs in less than 6 percent of all measurements. In contrast, at radial distances of 61 to 76 earth radii, equal probability for earthbound and tailward flow has been found, and average flow velocities are 336 km/s in both directions. These results indicate that magnetic neutral lines rarely move or form beyond about 100 earth radii.

Scholer, M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Microinstabilities associated with a high Mach number, perpendicular bow shock

Instability analyses incorporating insights gained through ISEE observations and hybrid simulations are used in an examination of the instabilities associated with a high Mach number perpendicular shock akin to the earth's bow shock. In the regions in front of, and at, the shock transition the cross-field instabilities are subdivided into the ion-ion streaming, kinetic cross-field streaming, and drift lower hybrid instability low frequency modes, as well as the electron cyclotron drift, ion sound, and electron whisker instability high frequency modes. Further downstream, ion ring-like and anisotropy-driven instabilities are considered. The implications of these results for wave signatures, plasma heating and acceleration are noted.

Wu, C. S.↗