| 1. |
- Bavassano Cattaneo, M. Bice, et al.
(författare)
-
Kinetic signatures during a quasi-continuous lobe reconnection event : Cluster Ion Spectrometer (CIS) observations
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 111:A9, s. A09212-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- On 3 December 2001 the Cluster spacecraft observed a long-lasting lobe reconnection event in the southern high-latitude dusk magnetopause (MP) tailward of the cusp, during a 4 hour interval of mainly northward interplanetary magnetic field ( IMF) and of sub-Alfvenic magnetosheath flow. Almost all the MP encounters have accelerated flows ( for which the Walen test has been successfully verified by Retino et al. ( 2005)) as well as a large number of secondary populations related to reconnection, that is, ions of magnetosheath or magnetospheric origin which cross the MP either way. The detailed analysis of the distribution functions shows that the reconnection site frequently moves relative to the spacecraft, but simultaneous measurements by two spacecraft on opposite sides of the reconnection site indicate that the spacecraft's distance from the X line is small, i.e., below 3200 km. The vicinity to the X line throughout the event is probably the reason why the distribution functions characteristics agree with theoretical expectations on both sides of the reconnection site throughout this long event. Moreover, the detailed analysis of the distribution functions shows evidence, during a few time intervals, of dual reconnection, i.e., of reconnection simultaneously going on also in the northern hemisphere.
|
|
| 2. |
- Hamrin, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Energy conversion regions as observed by Cluster in the plasma sheet
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 116, s. A00K08-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this article we present a review of recent studies of observations of localized energy conversion regions (ECRs) observed by Cluster in the plasma sheet at altitudes of 15-20R(E). By examining variations in the power density, E . J, where E is the electric field and J is the current density, we show that the plasma sheet exhibits a high level of fine structure. Approximately three times as many concentrated load regions (CLRs) (E . J > 0) as concentrated generator regions (CGRs) (E . J < 0) are identified, confirming the average load character of the plasma sheet. Some ECRs are found to relate to auroral activity. While ECRs are relevant for the energy conversion between the electromagnetic field and the particles, bursty bulk flows (BBFs) play a central role for the energy transfer in the plasma sheet. We show that ECRs and BBFs are likely to be related, although details of this relationship are yet to be explored. The plasma sheet energy conversion increases rather simultaneously with increasing geomagnetic activity in both CLRs and CGRs. Consistent with large-scale magnetotail simulations, most of the observed ECRs appear to be rather stationary in space but varying in time. We estimate that the ECR lifetime and scale size are a few minutes and a few R(E), respectively. It is conceivable that ECRs rise and vanish locally in significant regions of the plasma sheet, possibly oscillating between load and generator character, while some energy is transmitted as Poynting flux to the ionosphere.
|
|
| 3. |
- Hamrin, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
The evolution of flux pileup regions in the plasma sheet : Cluster observations
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202 .- 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 118:10, s. 6279-6290
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bursty bulk flows (BBFs) play an important role for the mass, energy, and magnetic flux transport in the plasma sheet, and the flow pattern in and around a BBF has important consequences for the localized energy conversion between the electromagnetic and plasma mechanical energy forms. The plasma flow signature in and around BBFs is often rather complicated. Return flows and plasma vortices are expected to exist at the flanks of the main flow channel, especially near the inner plasma sheet boundary, but also farther down-tail. A dipolarization front (DF) is often observed at the leading edge of a BBF, and a flux pileup region (FPR) behind the DF. Here we present Cluster data of three FPRs associated with vortex flows observed in the midtail plasma sheet on 15 August 2001. According to the principles of Fu et al. (2011, 2012c), two of the FPRs are considered to be in an early stage of evolution (growing FPRs). The third FPR is in a later stage of evolution (decaying FPR). For the first time, the detailed energy conversion properties during various stages of the FPR evolution have been measured. We show that the later stage FPR has a more complex vortex pattern than the two earlier stage FPRs. The two early stage FPR correspond to generators, EJ<0, while the later stage FPR only shows weak generator characteristics and is instead dominated by load signatures at the DF, EJ>0. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is one of the first times BBF-related plasma vortices have been observed to propagate over the spacecraft in the midtail plasma sheet at geocentric distances of about 18R(E). Our observations are compared to recent simulation results and previous observations.
|
|
| 4. |
- Hamrin, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
The role of the inner tail to midtail plasma sheet in channeling solar wind power to the ionosphere
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 117:A6, s. A06310-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this article we use Cluster power density (E . J) data from 2001, 2002, and 2004 to investigate energy conversion and transfer in the plasma sheet. We show that a southward IMF B-z is favorable for plasma sheet energy conversion, and that there is an increased particle and Poynting flux toward the Earth at times when Cluster observes an enhanced energy conversion in the plasma sheet. Conversion from electromagnetic to kinetic energy is increasingly dominant farther down-tail, while the generation of electromagnetic power from kinetic energy becomes important toward the Earth with a maximum at roughly 10 R-E. By linking observations of the key quantity E . J to observations of the solar wind input and earthward energy flux, our results demonstrate the role of the inner tail to midtail plasma sheet as a mediator between the solar wind energy input into the magnetosphere and the auroral dissipation in the ionosphere.
|
|
| 5. |
- Keika, K., et al.
(författare)
-
Response of the inner magnetosphere and the plasma sheet to a sudden impulse
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 113:A7, s. A07S35-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- [1] The passage of an interplanetary shock caused a sudden compression of the magnetosphere between 0900 UT and 0915 UT on 24 August 2005. An estimate of the shock normal from solar wind data obtained by Geotail upstream of the bow shock indicates symmetric compression with respect to the noon-midnight meridian. Compression-related disturbances of the magnetic and electric field and plasma motion were observed by Double Star Program (DSP) Tan Ce 1 (TC1) and Tan Ce 2 (TC2) in the inner magnetosphere and by the Cluster spacecraft in the dawnside plasma sheet. DSP/TC1 and TC2 observations suggest that the disturbances in the inner magnetosphere are propagating from the dayside magnetopause. Cluster S/C 4 observations indicate that the front normal of the disturbances in the dawnside plasma sheet is phi similar to 180 degrees at 0902: 50 UT and phi = 107 degrees at 0904: 34 UT, where phi is the longitude in GSM coordinates, if we assume that the measured electric field is on the front plane and the normal lies on the X-Y plane. The timing analysis applied to magnetic field data from the four Cluster spacecraft independently gives a front normal, which is calculated to be phi =131 degrees at about 0904: 20 UT. Shock-associated magnetic and electric field disturbances propagating from both the dayside and flank magnetopauses are detected in the plasma sheet; the latter makes the dominant contribution. Substorms are, however, not triggered at the passage of the disturbances.
|
|
| 6. |
- Marghitu, O., et al.
(författare)
-
Auroral arc and oval electrodynamics in the Harang region
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 114
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Auroral arcs are typically described in terms of an upward field-aligned current (FAC) sheet above the arc, connected by ionospheric Pedersen current to a downward FAC sheet near the arc. On the basis of data measured by the FAST spacecraft, conjugate with ground optical observations, we present first a wide and stable winter evening arc, where this standard model does not apply. The arc is observed in the Harang region during the growth phase of a modest substorm, poleward of the convection reversal (CR) boundary. Although the magnetic field data suggest the typical configuration, the two FAC sheets appear to be decoupled near the satellite footprint: the upward FAC is fed by the westward electrojet (WEJ), while the downward FAC feeds the eastward electrojet (EEJ). The examination of the arc by the newly developed ALADYN technique confirms this peculiar current topology. For comparison, we apply ALADYN also to a second evening arc, located within the Harang region equatorward from the CR. The arc is confirmed to have the standard configuration, consistent with a former study, but substantial FAC-EJ coupling is inferred in the auroral oval both poleward and equatorward of the arc. A key element for the topology of the current closure is the westward component of the electric field, which influences the relative location of the CR with respect to the large-scale FAC reversal (FR) boundary. As proved by tests on synthetic data, a westward component of the electric field pushes the CR toward the FR, preventing thus the standard FAC closure, while the conductance and FAC pattern shape the CR profile. Since a westward electric field is often measured in the Harang region, the FAC-EJ coupling is expected to be an essential ingredient there. This has important implications for the current closure in the equatorial magnetosphere and for the auroral current circuit in the WEJ region, closely related to the substorm process.
|
|
| 7. |
- Nakamura, R., et al.
(författare)
-
Cluster observations of an ion-scale current sheet in the magnetotail under the presence of a guide field
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 113:A7, s. A07S16-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report on Cluster observations of a thin current sheet interval under the presence of a strong vertical bar B-Y vertical bar during a fast earthward flow interval between 1655 UT and 1703 UT on 17 August 2003. The strong vertical bar B-Y vertical bar in the tail could be associated with a strong IMF vertical bar B-Y vertical bar, but the large fluctuations in B-Y, not seen in the IMF, suggest that a varying reconnection rate causes a varying transport of B-Y-dominated magnetic flux and/or a change in B-Y due to the Hall-current system. During the encounter of the high-speed flow, an intense current layer was observed around 1655: 53 UT with a peak current density of 182 nA/m(2), the largest current density observed by the Cluster four-spacecraft magnetic field measurement in the magnetotail. The half width of this current layer was estimated to be similar to 290 km, which was comparable to the ion-inertia length. Its unique signature is that the strong current is mainly field-aligned current flowing close to the center of the plasma sheet. The event was associated with parallel heating of electrons with asymmetries, which suggests that electrons moving along the field lines can contribute to a strong dawn-to-dusk current when the magnetotail current sheet becomes sufficiently thin and active in a strong guide field case.
|
|
| 8. |
- Runov, A., et al.
(författare)
-
Observations of an active thin current sheet
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 113:A7
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We analyze observations of magnetotail current sheet dynamics during a substorm between 2330 and 2400 UT on 28 August 2005 when Cluster was in the plasma sheet at [-17.2, -4.49, 0.03] R-E (GSM) with the foot points near the IMAGE ground-based network. Observations from the Cluster spacecraft, ground-based magnetometers, and the IMAGE satellite showed that the substorm started in a localized region near midnight, expanding azimuthally. A thin current sheet with a thickness of less than 900 km and current density of about 30 nA/m(2) was observed during 5 min around the substorm onset. The thinning of the current sheet was accompanied by tailward plasma flow at a velocity of -700 km/s and subsequent reversal to earthward flow at V-x approximate to 500 km/s coinciding with a B-z turning from -5 to + 10 nT. The analysis of magnetic and electric fields behavior and particle distributions reveals signatures of impulsive (with similar to 1 min timescale) activations of the thin current sheet. These observations were interpreted in the framework of transient reconnection, although the data analysis reveals serious disagreements with the classical 2.5-D X line model.
|
|
