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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

The boundary layers as the primary transport regions of the earth's magnetotail

A comprehensive survey of ISEE and IMP LEPEDEA plasma measurements in the earth's magnetotail reveals that the magnetospheric boundary layer and the plasma sheet boundary layer are the primary transport regions there. These plasma measurements also reveal various components of the plasma sheet, including the central plasma sheet and plasma sheet boundary layer. A significant new result reported here is that of cold- and hot-plasma components that are spatially co-present within the central plasma sheet. Such plasma components cannot be explained merely by temporal variations in spectra involving the entire plasma sheet. Contributions to a low temperature component of the plasma sheet enter directly from the boundary layer located along the magnetotail flanks. Field-aligned flows predominate within the plasma sheet boundary layer which is almost always present and is located near the high- and low-latitude border of the plasma sheet. The plasma sheet boundary layer comprises highly anisotropic ion distributions, including counter-streaming ion beams, that evolve into the hot, isotropic component of the plasma sheet. Tailward acceleration regions generate these ion beams with plasma input from the magnetospheric boundary layer. Antisunward-flowing ion beams, at E/q less than 1 kV and of ionospheric composition, are frequently observed in the plasma sheet boundary layer and in tail lobes. These ion beams are likely accelerated at low altitude over the polar cap and especially along auroral field lines.

Eastman, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The effect of different resistivity models on magnetotail dynamics

Two-dimensional, time-dependent MHD simulations of the interaction between the solar wind and the earth's magnetosphere have been performed to study magnetotail dynamics with varying forms of anomalous resistivity. In general, the resulting models conform to the neutral line model proposed for substorms with near-earth x points and high-speed tailward flows occurring in the magnetotail. However, in the case where Joule heating is included in the physical description of the system, the near-earth x point never moves far down tail, and high-speed tailward flows never stop. Only in the case where there is no Joule heating does the x point move down tail. Simultaneously, the high-speed tailward flows cease. These results indicate that the mechanism of energy dissipation can have an important effect on reconnection processes and the global magnetospheric dynamics.

Lyon, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Neutral sheet crossings by ISEE-3 in the distant magnetotail

Magnetic field data from ISEE-3 in the distant magnetotail at crossings of the field reversal (or neutral sheet) region were analyzed to determine the instantaneous direction of the normal component Bz at the crossing. A crossing identified as being almost always tailward of the steady-state X-line was selected. Data for 1 hr are discussed to illustrate difficulties. One particular smooth crossing shows that complicated microstructure can occur in times less than 1 min. Averaging over long times may eliminate essential information. Inspection of the magnetic field data at the highest resolution, however, shows that the direction of the plasma sheet flows and the sense of Bz across the neutral sheet do not always agree with the reconnection models. Rather, they indicate that the low latitude boundary layer may play a significant role in the dynamics of the magnetotail.

Heikkila, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The Jovian magnetotail

The current understanding of the plasma, magnetic field, and plasma wave characteristics of the near and distant Jovian magnetotail is discussed. The properties of these two regions are compared, with particular emphasis given to the data on the distant tail obtained by Voyager 2. The Jovian tail has many unusual properties, such as the large scale sausage-string shape of its outer boundary, but some of its properties resemble those of the earth's magnetotail, such as its central current sheet and a surrounding region resembling a plasma sheet consisting of hot ions. Data are presented that support the view that plasma in the Jovian tail plasma sheet comes from Jupiter.

Lepping, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The Venus magnetotail

The magnetic structure of the Venus magnetotail has been measured using 9 seasons of Pioneer Venus measurements in the distant wake region. The magnetotail region is about 4 Venus radii wide and about 3.2 Venus radii high at 12 Venus radii behind the planet. The tail contains about 2.3 Megawebers of flux, much of which closes across the tail. The J x B force associated with this cross tail component accelerates the tail plasma down the tail causing an ion loss rate of about 10 to the 26th ions per second. The Venus tail does respond to solar activity and contains significantly less magnetic flux at solar minimum.

Russell, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A review of broad-band electrostatic waves in the magnetotail

Recent results showing that ions beams are the cause of generating broad-band electrostatic waves in the magnetotail, as well as theoretical work in good agreement with the spectrum observed, is reviewed. The implications of this for the transport and other dynamics of the magnetotail are discussed.

Grabbe, Crockett L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Current sheet crossings in the distant magnetotail

A computer search of crossings of the field reversal region in the middle of the distant magnetotail has been done with ISEE-3 data. It is found that the instantaneous direction of the magnetic field at the crossings Bz is northward on average at a distance of 220 earth radii, with moderate values of the plasma flow. This result suggests that the magnetic field lines are closed; since the flow is tailward, the Dungey (1961) model with a steady state reconnection line across the magnetotail earthward of the spacecraft is invalidated. The present result gives strong support to a model in which tailward boundary layer flow provides the viscous interaction proposed by Axford and Hines (1961). At higher values of the plasma velocity, negative values of Bz are found.

Heikkila, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The roles of direct input of energy from the solar wind and unloading of stored magnetotail energy in driving magnetospheric substorms

The contributions to the substorm expansive phase of direct energy input from the solar wind and from energy stored in the magnetotail which is released in an unpredictable manner are considered. Two physical processes for the dispensation of the energy input from the solar wind are identified: (1) a driven process in which energy supplied from the solar wind is directly dissipated in the ionosphere; and (2) a loading-unloading process in which energy from the solar wind is first stored in the magnetotail and then is suddenly released to be deposited in the ionosphere. The pattern of substorm development in response to changes in the interplanetary medium has been elucidated for a canonical isolated substorm.

Rostoker, G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Plasma and magnetic field variations in the distant magnetotail associated with near-earth substorm effects

Examination of many individual event periods in the ISEE 3 deep-tail data set has suggested that magnetospheric substorms produce a characteristic pattern of effects in the distant magnetotail. During the growth, or tail-energy-storage phase of substorms, the magnetotail appears to grow diametrically in size, often by many earth radii. Subsequently, after the substorm expansive phase onset at earth, the distant tail undergoes a sequence of plasma, field, and energetic-particle variations as large-scale plasmoids move rapidly down the tail following their disconnection from the near-earth plasma sheet. ISEE 3 data are appropriate for the study of these effects since the spacecraft remained fixed within the nominal tail location for long periods. Using newly available auroral electrojet indices (AE and AL) and Geo particle data to time substorm onsets at earth, superposed epoch analyses of ISEE 3 and near-earth data prior to, and following, substorm expansive phase onsets have been performed. These analyses quantify and extend substantially the understanding of the deep-tail pattern of response to global substorm-induced dynamical effects.

Baker, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Remarks on the MHD problem of generic magnetospheres and magnetotails

An understanding of the plasma physics problem of MHD flow around a magnetized sphere or cylinder in different Reynolds number regimes is shown to be crucial to magnetospheric and magnetotail studies. A significant amount of knowledge can be acquired from experimental and computational hydrodynamic precedents. It is believed that highly symmetric laminar models of the magnetosphere and magnetotail are unlikely in view of the high Reynolds numbers involved.

Montgomery, D.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Dynamics of the near-earth magnetotail - Recent observations

Observations relevant to models of the magnetotail and its ionospheric coupling are presented. Particular attention is given to the near-earth plasma sheet and magnetotail lobes. Plasmoid formation in the near-earth plasma sheet is examined in the context of new measurements of auroral oval motions and of plasma convection near the center plane of the plasma sheet.

Frank, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Three-dimensional equilibria for the extended magnetotail and the generation of field-aligned current sheets

Using the magnetotail equilibrium theory and a solution method outlined by Birn (1987), self-consistent three-dimensional models were constructed for the quiet average magnetotail beyond about 20 RE distance but earthward of a potential distant neutral line, which take into account the decrease of the tail flaring with distance. It is found that this effect is coupled with the presence of magnetic shear and thus with field-aligned electric currents. These currents have the signature of region 1 currents, toward the earth on the dawnside and away on the duskside, and contribute about 500,000 A to the total Birkeland current.

Birn, J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Three-point magnetic field observations of substorms in the inner magnetotail

Three-point AMPTE/CCE and GOES 5 and 6 magnetic field observations of substorms in the inner magnetotail, provided by the AMPTE/CC, GOES 5, and GOES 6 satellites, were used to investigate the magnetotail changes as a function of radial distance and latitude. Data analysis indicates that observed phenomena depend significantly on these two coordinates. The results were, in general, consistent with the current wedge concept of Nagai (1987).

Fairfield, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The deep planetary magnetotail revisited

The magnetotail model of Grzedzielski and Macek (1988) is extended to great distances in the antisolar direction. For typical solar wind parameters at 1 AU and the most probable set of parameters of the model as determined for the ISEE-3 region of 200 earth radii, R(E), the open geotail extends to at least 3000 - 4000 R(E) downstream from earth, where it forms a cavity filled with a dense hot plasma and low magnetic field strengths. The cross section of this cavity in the plane perpendicular to the earth-sun line has dimensions of 300 - 400 R(E) parallel to the ecliptic plane, but only 5 R(E) in the direction normal to the ecliptic. It seems likely that the magnetotail would become filamentary at such distances.

Macek, Wieslaw M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A possible case of radially antisunward propagating substorm onset in the near-earth magnetotail

It is generally thought that the local effects associated with substorm onset in the near-earth magnetotail (R less than about 10 earth radii) have a component of propagation which is radially earthward. This study presents a case during which it is possible that the local effects of substorm onset propagated radially antisunward, examining energetic-ion and magnetic-field data from AMPTE/CCE and energetic-particle data from the GEO satellite 1982-019 during a period of weak substorm activity on June 11, 1985. Although the effects of this event on the ground were very weak, the substorm had a dramatic effect on at least one portion of the near-earth magnetotail. During the period the spacecraft were in an unusually close radial alignment. The data show that phenomena associated with the local effects of substorm onset began at or near GEO before they were observed at CCE. This event is best explained by a near-earth disruption of the cross-tail current sheet and the consequent formation of a substorm current wedge, with a component of expansion antisunward down the tail.

Lopez, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A statistical study of ions and magnetic fields in the Venus magnetotail

A statistical characterization is made of the combined ion and magnetic field properties of the Venus magnetosheath and magnetotail, on the basis of plasma and magnetic field data from 223 Pioneer Venus orbits; no assumptions are made as to existing regions or their plasma and field characteristics. Plasma is found to flow tailward in all locations, and the magnetotail is highly draped. Weak magnetic field asymmetries are associated with the plasma dropouts. A high-E/q plasma population, previously interpreted as planetary-pickup ions, is found asymmetrically both within the tail and in the adjacent sheath. The Venus tail is filled with plasma that is primarily shocked solar wind, at fluxes that are sometimes undetectable; the tail coexists with a photoion population which generates asymmetries in the bulk plasma and magnetic field properties.

Moore, K. R.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Collisionless tearing instability in magnetotail plasmas

The problem of the linear stability of collisionless tearing modes in the earth's magnetotail is revisited. It is found that the collisionless tearing mode is linearly unstable with wavelengths of the order of 10 R(E). It is shown that an important feature neglected in earlier theories is a nonzero equilibrium B(y)-field. The physics of the instability is elucidated in the context of a simple slab model and a sheared parabolic model which is representative of the magnetotail in which all three components of the magnetic field are nonzero. The dispersion equation for the instability is obtained by a boundary-layer analysis. The implications of the theory for recent observations on current disruption and diversion during substorms is discussed.

Wang, Xiaogang↗
NASA NTRS1990

Differential memory in the trilinear model magnetotail

The previously proposed concept of 'differential memory' is quantitatively demonstrated using an idealized analytical model of particle dynamics in the magnetotail geometry. In this model (the 'trilinear' tail model) the magnetotail is divided into three regions. The particle orbits are solved exactly in each region, thus reducing the orbit integration to an analytical mapping. It is shown that the trilinear model reproduces the essential phase space features of the earlier model (Chen and Palmadesso, 1986), possessing well-defined entry and exit regions, and stochastic, integrable (regular), and transient orbits, occupying disjoint phase space regions. Different regions have widely separated characteristic time scales corresponding to different types of particle motion. Using the analytical model, the evolution of single-particle distribution functions is calculated.

Chen, James↗