| 1. |
- Forsyth, C., et al.
(författare)
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In situ spatiotemporal measurements of the detailed azimuthal substructure of the substorm current wedge
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. - 2169-9380. ; 119:2, s. 927-946
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The substorm current wedge (SCW) is a fundamental component of geomagnetic substorms. Models tend to describe the SCW as a simple line current flowing into the ionosphere toward dawn and out of the ionosphere toward dusk, linked by a westward electrojet. We use multispacecraft observations from perigee passes of the Cluster 1 and 4 spacecraft during a substorm on 15 January 2010, in conjunction with ground-based observations, to examine the spatial structuring and temporal variability of the SCW. At this time, the spacecraft traveled east-west azimuthally above the auroral region. We show that the SCW has significant azimuthal substructure on scales of 100km at altitudes of 4000-7000km. We identify 26 individual current sheets in the Cluster 4 data and 34 individual current sheets in the Cluster 1 data, with Cluster 1 passing through the SCW 120-240s after Cluster 4 at 1300-2000km higher altitude. Both spacecraft observed large-scale regions of net upward and downward field-aligned current, consistent with the large-scale characteristics of the SCW, although sheets of oppositely directed currents were observed within both regions. We show that the majority of these current sheets were closely aligned to a north-south direction, in contrast to the expected east-west orientation of the preonset aurora. Comparing our results with observations of the field-aligned current associated with bursty bulk flows (BBFs), we conclude that significant questions remain for the explanation of SCW structuring by BBF-driven wedgelets. Our results therefore represent constraints on future modeling and theoretical frameworks on the generation of the SCW.
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| 2. |
- Frey, H U, et al.
(författare)
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Freja and ground-based analysis of inverted-V events
- 1998
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Ingår i: JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS. - 0148-0227. ; 103:A3, s. 4303-4314
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During two campaigns, ground-based auroral observations were performed in coordination with Freja. The high temporal and spatial resolution of the satellite instruments as well as the real-time recording with a stereoscopic camera system from the ground enabled detailed comparison of small- and large-scale optical phenomena with particle and field data measured by the satellite. Three passes of the satellite over inverted-V auroral arcs and over precipitation regions with strong field-aligned electron spectra are investigated. Brightness modulations within auroral arcs coincide with modulations of primary electron fluxes. The dynamics of small-scale structures within arcs as well as the proper motion of arcs are analyzed and compared with electric fields measured by the satellite and with BARS radar measurements. Energy fluxes independently determined from the ground and from the satellite are used to calculate the field-aligned conductance. The results agree with predictions of the kinetic theory of the mirror force, if we allow for variations of the density and thermal energy of the electrons in the source region of the magnetosphere. Detailed comparison of electron spectra and electric and magnetic field perturbations provide evidence of different acceleration mechanisms for the electrons, electrostatic acceleration inside inverted-V's, and wave acceleration in transient regions.
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| 3. |
- Frey, H. U., et al.
(författare)
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Small and meso-scale properties of a substorm onset auroral arc
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 115, s. A10209-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present small and meso-scale properties of a substorm onset arc observed simultaneously by the Reimei and THEMIS satellites together with ground-based observations by the THEMIS GBO system. The optical observations revealed the slow equatorward motion of the growth-phase arc and the development of a much brighter onset arc poleward of it. Both arcs showed the typical particle signature of electrostatic acceleration in an inverted-V structure together with a strong Alfven wave acceleration signature at the poleward edge of the onset arc. Two THEMIS spacecraft encountered earthward flow bursts around the times the expanding optical aurora reached their magnetic footprints in the ionosphere. The particle and field measurements allowed for the reconstruction of the field-aligned current system and the determination of plasma properties in the auroral source region. Auroral arc properties were extracted from the optical and particle measurements and were used to compare measured values to theoretical predictions of the electrodynamic model for the generation of auroral arcs. Good agreement could be reached for the meso-scale arc properties. A qualitative analysis of the internal structuring of the bright onset arc suggests the operation of the tearing instability which provides a 'rope-like' appearance due to advection of the current in the sheared flow across the arc. We also note that for the observed parameters ionospheric conductivity gradients due to electron precipitation will be unstable to the feedback instability in the ionospheric Alfven resonator that can drive structuring in luminosity over the range of scales observed.
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| 4. |
- Nakamura, R., et al.
(författare)
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Low- altitude electron acceleration due to multiple flow bursts in themagnetotail
- 2014
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 41:3, s. 777-784
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- At 10:00 UT on 25 February 2008, Cluster 1 spacecraft crossed the near-midnight auroral zone, at about 2R(E) altitude, while two of the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions During Substorms (THEMIS) spacecraft, THD and THE, observed multiple flow bursts on the near-conjugate plasma sheet field lines. The flow shear pattern at THEMIS was consistent with the vortical motion at duskside of a localized flow channel. Coinciding in time with the flow bursts, Cluster 1 observed bursts of counterstreaming electrons with mostly low energies (441eV), accompanied by short time scale (<5s) magnetic field disturbances embedded in flow-associated field-aligned current systems. This conjugate event not only confirms the idea that the plasma sheet flows are the driver of the kinetic Alfven waves accelerating the low-energy electrons but is a unique observation of disturbances in the high-altitude auroral region relevant to the multiple plasma sheet flows. Key Points First observation of multiple flow signatures on near-conjugate flux tubes Low-energy electron profile suggests Alfvenic acceleration due to fast flow Multiple flow bursts are obtained to extend over large radial distance in tail
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| 5. |
- Ohtani, S., et al.
(författare)
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Cluster observations in the inner magnetosphere during the 18 April 2002 sawtooth event : Dipolarization and injection at r=4.6 R-E
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 112:A8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study examines a sawtooth injection event that took place around 0800 UT on 18 April 2002 when the Cluster spacecraft were located in the inner magnetosphere in the premidnight sector. In association with this injection, Cluster, at a radial distance of 4.6 RE, observed that the local magnetic field became more dipolar and that both ion and electron fluxes increased without notable energy dispersion. These features were accompanied by intensifications of the equatorward component of a double- oval structure and also by an enhancement of the ring- current oxygen ENA flux. The event was also accompanied by large magnetic field ( a few tens of nT) and electric field ( a few tens of mV/ m) fluctuations with characteristic timescales of a few tens of seconds. These observations strongly suggest that this sawtooth injection extended not only widely in local time but also deeply into the inner magnetosphere. Interestingly, Cluster repeatedly observed dipolarization- like signatures afterward, which, however, were not associated with enhancements of local energetic ion flux or with geosynchronous dipolarization or injection signatures. Instead, these magnetic signatures were accompanied by oscillatory plasma motion in the radial direction with a characteristic timescale of about 10 min, which appears to be related to the westward propagation of a spatially periodic auroral structure. The associated azimuthal electric field component was well correlated with the time derivative of the north- south magnetic field component, suggesting that the observed electric field is inductive. These findings suggest that electromagnetic processes far inside geosynchronous orbit play an important role in energization of energetic ions and auroral dynamics during magnetospheric storms.
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| 6. |
- Yamauchi, M., et al.
(författare)
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Magnetospheric solitary structure maintained by 3000 km/s ions as a cause of westward moving auroral bulge at 19 MLT
- 2009
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Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 27:7, s. 2947-2969
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the evening equatorial magnetosphere at about 4 R-E geocentric distance and 19 MLT, the four Cluster spacecraft observed a solitary structure with a width of about 1000 similar to 2000 km in the propagation direction. The solitary structure propagates sunward with about 5 similar to 10 km/s carrying sunward electric field (in the propagation direction) of up to about 10 mV/m (total potential drop of about 5 similar to 10 kV), depletion of magnetic field of about 25%, and a duskward E x B convection up to 50 km/s of He+ rich cold plasma without O+. At the same time, auroral images from the IMAGE satellite together with ground based geomagnetic field data showed a westward (sunward at this location) propagating auroral bulge at the magnetically conjugate ionosphere with the solitary structure. The solitary structure is maintained by flux enhancement of selectively 3000 km/s ions (about 50 keV for H+, 200 keV for He+, and 750 keV for O+). These ions are the main carrier of the diamagnetic current causing the magnetic depletion, whereas the polarization is maintained by different behavior of energetic ions and electrons. Corresponding to aurora, field-aligned accelerated ionospheric plasma of several keV appeared at Cluster from both hemispheres simultaneously. Together with good correspondence in location and propagation velocity between the auroral bulge and the solitary structure, this indicates that the sunward moving auroral bulge is caused by the sunward propagation of the solitary structure which is maintained by energetic ions. The solitary structure might also be the cause of Pi2-like magnetic variation that started simultaneously at Cluster location.
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