| 1. |
- Li, Bin, et al.
(författare)
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Inverted-V and low-energy broadband electron acceleration features of multiple auroras within a large-scale surge
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380. ; 118:9, s. 5543-5552
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Results are presented from a Cluster C2 satellite crossing through the acceleration region of multiple auroral structures within a large-scale surge, simultaneously monitored by DMSP F17 imager data. The magnetic and electric field data are consistent with the auroral distribution at large and medium scales. We identify the quasi-static acceleration above and below C2 orbit by downgoing inverted-V electrons and parallel electric potential drops, respectively. In the poleward surge region, within or adjacent to the inverted-V arcs, intense low-energy (broadband) electron fluxes are seen as well as a rough equality between E/B and the Alfven velocity, suggesting that these are of Alfvenic origin. The most poleward and equatorward auroral structure is found to be Alfvenic and quasi-static, respectively. In between, the structures are of mixed origin. We estimate the relative role of the acceleration processes by the contributions to the downward electron energy flux by electrons above and below 1.62keV. Although these are local estimates, they should be representative also below Cluster altitude, except for two regions of intense downward Poynting flux, the power of which will be dissipated at lower altitudes and increasing the Alfvenic contribution. This is also supported by intense fluxes of low-energy, broadband, upgoing electrons observed within these regions. Otherwise, the inverted-V contribution dominates for most of the auroral structures observed by Cluster. The Alfvenic contribution to the mixed arc emissions is to extend these to higher altitudes, as shown by numerical simulation results.
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| 2. |
- Li, Bin, et al.
(författare)
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Statistical altitude distribution of Cluster auroral electric fields, indicating mainly quasi-static acceleration below 2.8 R-E and Alfvenic above
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 119:11, s. 8984-8991
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Results are presented from a statistical study of high-altitude electric fields and plasma densities using Cluster satellite data collected during 9.5years between 2 and 4 R-E. The average electric fields are most intense on the nightside and associated with an extensive plasma density cavity, with densities of 1cm(-3) or less. The intense electric fields are concentrated in two regions, separated by an altitude gap at about 2.8 R-E. Below this, the average electric field magnitudes reach about 50mV/m (mapped to the ionosphere) between 22 and 01 magnetic local time (MLT). Above 3 R-E, the fields are about twice as high and spread over a broader MLT range. These fields occur in a region where the (E/B)/V-A ratio is close to unity, which suggests an Alfvenic origin. The intense low-altitude electric fields are interpreted to be quasi-static, associated with the auroral acceleration region. This is supported by their location in MLT and altitude, and by a (E/B)/V-A ratio much below unity. The local electric field minimum between the two regions indicates a partial closure of the electrostatic potentials in the lower region. These results show similarities with model results of reflected Alfven waves by Lysak and Dum (1983), and with the O-shaped potential model, with associated wave-particle interaction at its top, proposed by Janhunen et al. (2000).
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Toledo-Redondo, Sergio, et al.
(författare)
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Cold ion demagnetization near the X-line of magnetic reconnection
- 2016
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:13, s. 6759-6767
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although the effects of magnetic reconnection in magnetospheres can be observed at planetary scales, reconnection is initiated at electron scales in a plasma. Surrounding the electron diffusion region, there is an Ion-Decoupling Region (IDR) of the size of the ion length scales (inertial length and gyroradius). Reconnection at the Earth's magnetopause often includes cold magnetospheric (few tens of eV), hot magnetospheric (10keV), and magnetosheath (1keV) ions, with different gyroradius length scales. We report observations of a subregion inside the IDR of the size of the cold ion population gyroradius (approximate to 15km) where the cold ions are demagnetized and accelerated parallel to the Hall electric field. Outside the subregion, cold ions follow the E x B motion together with electrons, while hot ions are demagnetized. We observe a sharp cold ion density gradient separating the two regions, which we identify as the cold and hot IDRs.
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