| 1. |
- Borälv, E., et al.
(författare)
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Correlation between ground-based observations of substorm signatures and magnetotail dynamics
- 2005
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Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 23, s. 997-1011
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a substorm event study combining Cluster and ground-based instrumentation. For this event ground-based magnetograms show a substorm onset and two separate substorm intensifications over Scandinavia, at the time located in the pre-midnight sector. During the substorm Cluster is located in the southern plasma sheet at a downtail distance of 18.5 Re. For all the substorm signatures seen on ground, corresponding plasma sheet drop-outs and re-entries of all or individual spacecraft of the Cluster constellation are observed. In general, plasma sheet drop-outs are assumed to be due to plasma sheet thinning/thickening and/or to magnetotail flapping. However, in the literature there has been some disagreement on both spatial and temporal characteristics of plasma sheet thinning and thickening during substorms. We therefore investigate the causes for the plasma sheet drop-outs for this event, which at first glance appears to show plasma sheet thinning at substorm onset, contradictory to the present standpoint in the literature.
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| 2. |
- Breuillard, H., et al.
(författare)
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Multispacecraft analysis of dipolarization fronts and associated whistler wave emissions using MMS data
- 2016
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:14, s. 7279-7286
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dipolarization fronts (DFs), embedded in bursty bulk flows, play a crucial role in Earth's plasma sheet dynamics because the energy input from the solar wind is partly dissipated in their vicinity. This dissipation is in the form of strong low-frequency waves that can heat and accelerate energetic electrons up to the high-latitude plasma sheet. However, the dynamics of DF propagation and associated low-frequency waves in the magnetotail are still under debate due to instrumental limitations and spacecraft separation distances. In May 2015 the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission was in a string-of-pearls configuration with an average intersatellite distance of 160km, which allows us to study in detail the microphysics of DFs. Thus, in this letter we employ MMS data to investigate the properties of dipolarization fronts propagating earthward and associated whistler mode wave emissions. We show that the spatial dynamics of DFs are below the ion gyroradius scale in this region (approximate to 500km), which can modify the dynamics of ions in the vicinity of the DF (e.g., making their motion nonadiabatic). We also show that whistler wave dynamics have a temporal scale of the order of the ion gyroperiod (a few seconds), indicating that the perpendicular temperature anisotropy can vary on such time scales.
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| 3. |
- Chen, Y., et al.
(författare)
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Studying Dawn-Dusk Asymmetries of Mercury's Magnetotail Using MHD-EPIC Simulations
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : Blackwell Publishing Ltd. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 124:11, s. 8954-8973
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- MESSENGER has observed a lot of dawn-dusk asymmetries in Mercury's magnetotail, such as the asymmetries of the cross-tail current sheet thickness and the occurrence of flux ropes, dipolarization events, and energetic electron injections. In order to obtain a global pictures of Mercury's magnetotail dynamics and the relationship between these asymmetries, we perform global simulations with the magnetohydrodynamics with embedded particle-in-cell (MHD-EPIC) model, where Mercury's magnetotail region is covered by a PIC code. Our simulations show that the dawnside current sheet is thicker, the plasma density is larger, and the electron pressure is higher than the duskside. Under a strong interplanetary magnetic field driver, the simulated reconnection sites prefer the dawnside. We also found the dipolarization events and the planetward electron jets are moving dawnward while they are moving toward the planet, so that almost all dipolarization events and high-speed plasma flows concentrate in the dawn sector. The simulation results are consistent with MESSENGER observations.
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| 4. |
- Cumnock, Judy A., et al.
(författare)
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Space Technology 5 multipoint observations of transpolar arc related field-aligned currents
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 0148-0227. ; 116
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present two transpolar arc events where for the first time we are able to analyze changes in field-aligned currents associated with high-latitude transpolar auroral arcs on time scales of a few minutes. This is accomplished through the use of highly accurate multipoint magnetic field measurements provided by the Space Technology 5 mission, which consists of three microsatellites in low-Earth orbit. In the first event we examine measurements of an arc that is part of a highly dynamic auroral pattern, that of a hook-shaped arc. In the second event, a more stable dusk oval-aligned arc is analyzed. These events illustrate the dynamic nature of arc formation and show the usefulness of high-resolution multipoint measurements. Minimum variance analysis is used to determine the appropriateness of the infinite current sheet approximation and to calculate arc alignment angles which are then compared with those estimated from UV images or precipitating particle data.
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| 5. |
- Eastwood, J. P., et al.
(författare)
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Ion-scale secondary flux ropes generated by magnetopause reconnection as resolved by MMS
- 2016
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:10, s. 4716-4724
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- New Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations of small-scale (similar to 7 ion inertial length radius) flux transfer events (FTEs) at the dayside magnetopause are reported. The 10 km MMS tetrahedron size enables their structure and properties to be calculated using a variety of multispacecraft techniques, allowing them to be identified as flux ropes, whose flux content is small (similar to 22 kWb). The current density, calculated using plasma and magnetic field measurements independently, is found to be filamentary. Intercomparison of the plasma moments with electric and magnetic field measurements reveals structured non-frozen-in ion behavior. The data are further compared with a particle-in-cell simulation. It is concluded that these small-scale flux ropes, which are not seen to be growing, represent a distinct class of FTE which is generated on the magnetopause by secondary reconnection.
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| 6. |
- Milillo, A., et al.
(författare)
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Investigating Mercury's Environment with the Two-Spacecraft BepiColombo Mission
- 2020
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Ingår i: Space Science Reviews. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0038-6308 .- 1572-9672. ; 216:5
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission will provide simultaneous measurements from two spacecraft, offering an unprecedented opportunity to investigate magnetospheric and exospheric dynamics at Mercury as well as their interactions with the solar wind, radiation, and interplanetary dust. Many scientific instruments onboard the two spacecraft will be completely, or partially devoted to study the near-space environment of Mercury as well as the complex processes that govern it. Many issues remain unsolved even after the MESSENGER mission that ended in 2015. The specific orbits of the two spacecraft, MPO and Mio, and the comprehensive scientific payload allow a wider range of scientific questions to be addressed than those that could be achieved by the individual instruments acting alone, or by previous missions. These joint observations are of key importance because many phenomena in Mercury's environment are highly temporally and spatially variable. Examples of possible coordinated observations are described in this article, analysing the required geometrical conditions, pointing, resolutions and operation timing of different BepiColombo instruments sensors.
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| 7. |
- Nakamura, R., et al.
(författare)
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Transient, small-scale field-aligned currents in the plasma sheet boundary layer during storm time substorms
- 2016
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:10, s. 4841-4849
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report on field-aligned current observations by the four Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft near the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL) during two major substorms on 23 June 2015. Small-scale field-aligned currents were found embedded in fluctuating PSBL flux tubes near the separatrix region. We resolve, for the first time, short-lived earthward (downward) intense field-aligned current sheets with thicknesses of a few tens of kilometers, which are well below the ion scale, on flux tubes moving equatorward/earthward during outward plasma sheet expansion. They coincide with upward field-aligned electron beams with energies of a few hundred eV. These electrons are most likely due to acceleration associated with a reconnection jet or high-energy ion beam-produced disturbances. The observations highlight coupling of multiscale processes in PSBL as a consequence of magnetotail reconnection.
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| 8. |
- Oimatsu, S., et al.
(författare)
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Drift-Bounce Resonance Between Pc5 Pulsations and Ions at Multiple Energies in the Nightside Magnetosphere : Arase and MMS Observations
- 2018
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 45:15, s. 7277-7286
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A Pc5 wave is observed by the Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace Arase satellite in the inner magnetosphere (L similar to 5.4-6.1) near postmidnight (L-magnetic local time similar to 1.8-2.5 hr) during the storm recovery phase on 27 March 2017. Its azimuthal wave number (m-number) is estimated using two independent methods with satellites and ground observations to be -8 to -15. The direct measurement of the m-number enables us to calculate the resonance energy. The flux oscillations of H+ and O+ ions at >= 56.3 keV are caused by drift resonance and those of O+ ions at <= 18.6 keV by bounce resonance. Resonances of O+ ions at multiple energies are simultaneously observed for the first time. The enhancement of the O+/H+ flux ratio at <= 18.6 keV indicates selective acceleration of O+ ions through bounce resonance. Plain Language Summary Geomagnetic pulsations are magnetic fluctuations excited by solar wind or plasma instabilities in the magnetosphere. Pc5 waves are continuous geomagnetic pulsations with a period of 150-600 s. A Pc5 wave was observed in the inner magnetosphere during a magnetic storm on 27 March 2017. It propagated westward with a wave number of 8 to 15 and resonated with charged particles, resulting in oscillations of the H+ and O+ ion fluxes at >= 56.3 keV and the O+ ion fluxes at <= 18.6 keV. Resonances of O+ ions at multiple energies are simultaneously observed for the first time. At the same time, the O+/H+ flux ratio at <= 18.6 keV enhanced corresponding to the O+ ion flux oscillations, which indicates selective acceleration of O+ ions through resonances.
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| 9. |
- Orsini, S., et al.
(författare)
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Inner southern magnetosphere observation of Mercury via SERENA ion sensors in BepiColombo mission
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2041-1723. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mercury’s southern inner magnetosphere is an unexplored region as it was not observed by earlier space missions. In October 2021, BepiColombo mission has passed through this region during its first Mercury flyby. Here, we describe the observations of SERENA ion sensors nearby and inside Mercury’s magnetosphere. An intermittent high-energy signal, possibly due to an interplanetary magnetic flux rope, has been observed downstream Mercury, together with low energy solar wind. Low energy ions, possibly due to satellite outgassing, were detected outside the magnetosphere. The dayside magnetopause and bow-shock crossing were much closer to the planet than expected, signature of a highly eroded magnetosphere. Different ion populations have been observed inside the magnetosphere, like low latitude boundary layer at magnetopause inbound and partial ring current at dawn close to the planet. These observations are important for understanding the weak magnetosphere behavior so close to the Sun, revealing details never reached before.
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| 10. |
- Shi, Z., et al.
(författare)
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An Eastward Current Encircling Mercury
- 2022
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 49:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mercury has a terrestrial-like magnetosphere which is usually taken as a scaled-down-version of Earth's magnetosphere with a similar current system. We examine Mercury's magnetospheric current system based on a survey of Mercury's magnetic field measured by the Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging spacecraft as well as computer simulations. We show that there is no significant Earth-like ring current flowing westward around Mercury, instead, we find, for the first time, an eastward current (EC) encircling the planet near the night-side magnetic equator with an altitude of ∼500–1,000 km. The EC is closed with the dayside magnetopause current and could be driven by the gradient of plasma pressure as a diamagnetic current. Thus, Mercury's magnetosphere is not a scaled-down Earth magnetosphere, but a unique natural space plasma laboratory. Our findings offer fresh insights to analyze data from the BepiColombo mission, which is expected to orbit Mercury in 2025.
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| 11. |
- Sun, W. J., et al.
(författare)
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A Comparative Study of the Proton Properties of Magnetospheric Substorms at Earth and Mercury in the Near Magnetotail
- 2018
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 45:16, s. 7933-7941
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The variations of plasma sheet proton properties during magnetospheric substorms at Earth and Mercury are comparatively studied. This study utilizes kappa distributions to interpret proton properties at both planets. Proton number densities are found to be around an order of magnitude higher, temperatures several times smaller, and kappa values broader at Mercury than at Earth. Protons become denser and cooler during the growth phase, and are depleted and heated after the dipolarizations in both magnetospheres. The changes of kappa at Earth are generally small (<20%), indicating that spectrum-preserving processes, like adiabatic betatron acceleration, play an important role there, while variations of kappa at Mercury are large (>60%), indicating the importance of spectrum-altering processes there, such as acceleration due to nonadiabatic cross-tail particle motions and wave-particle interactions. This comparative study reveals important intrinsic properties on the energization of protons in both magnetospheres. Plain Language Summary Earth and Mercury are the only two planets possessing global intrinsic magnetic fields among the four inner planets, which are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, within the solar system. The interactions between the intrinsic magnetic fields and the continual flow of high-speed solar wind from the Sun form similar magnetospheres at the two planets, although the scale of the magnetosphere is much smaller at Mercury than at Earth. Magnetospheric substorms, a result of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling, occur in both magnetospheres. Comparative study of a similar process between different planets is meaningful as it can help us in understanding the specific process further as well as help us in understanding the intrinsic properties of the magnetospheres. This research paper characterizes the proton properties of magnetospheric substorms of both planets, revealing that different mechanisms control the behavior of protons during the magnetospheric substorms of the two planets.
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| 12. |
- Sundberg, Torbjörn, et al.
(författare)
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Reconstruction of propagating Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices at Mercury's magnetopause
- 2011
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Ingår i: Planetary and Space Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0032-0633 .- 1873-5088. ; 59:15, s. 2051-2057
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A series of quasi-periodic magnetopause crossings were recorded by the MESSENGER spacecraft during its third flyby of Mercury on 29 September 2009, likely caused by a train of propagating Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) vortices. We here revisit the observations to study the internal structure of the waves. Exploiting MESSENGER's rapid traversal of the magnetopause, we show that the observations permit a reconstruction of the structure of a rolled-up KH vortex directly from the spacecraft's magnetic field measurements. The derived geometry is consistent with all large-scale fluctuations in the magnetic field data, establishes the non-linear nature of the waves, and shows their vortex-like structure. In several of the wave passages, a reduction in magnetic field strength is observed in the middle of the wave, which is characteristic of rolled-up vortices and is related to the increase in magnetic pressure required to balance the centrifugal force on the plasma in the outer regions of a vortex, previously reported in computer simulations. As the KH wave starts to roll up, the reconstructed geometry suggests that the vortices develop two gradual transition regions in the magnetic field, possibly related to the mixing of magnetosheath and magnetospheric plasma, situated at the leading edges from the perspectives of both the magnetosphere and the magnetosheath.
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| 13. |
- Sundberg, Torbjörn, et al.
(författare)
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The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at Mercury : An assessment
- 2010
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Ingår i: Planetary and Space Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0032-0633 .- 1873-5088. ; 58:11, s. 1434-1441
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is believed to be an important means for the transfer of energy, plasma, and momentum from the solar wind into planetary magnetospheres, with in situ measurements reported from Earth, Saturn, and Venus. During the first MESSENGER flyby of Mercury, three periodic rotations were observed in the magnetic field data possibly related to a Kelvin-Helmholtz wave on the dusk side magnetopause. We present an analysis of the event, along with comparisons to previous Kelvin-Helmholtz observations and an investigation of what influence finite ion gyro radius effects, believed to be of importance in the Hermean magnetosphere, may have on the instability. The wave signature does not correspond to that of typical Kelvin-Helmholtz events, and the magnetopause direction does not show any signs of major deviation from the unperturbed case. There is thus no indication of any high amplitude surface waves. On the other hand, the wave period corresponds to that expected for a Kelvin-Helmholtz wave, and as the dusk side is shown to be more stable than the dawn side, we judge the observed waves not to be fully developed Kelvin-Helmholtz waves, but they may be an initial perturbation that could cause Kelvin-Helmholtz waves further down the tail. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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