| 1. |
- Nakamura, R., et al.
(författare)
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Flow bouncing and electron injection observed by Cluster
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380. ; 118:5, s. 2055-2072
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Characteristics of particles and fields in the flow-bouncing region are studied based on multipoint observations from Cluster located at 13-15R(E) downtail during a substorm event around 12:50 UT on 7 September 2007. The Cluster spacecraft were separated by a distance of up to 10,000 km and allowed to determine the mesoscale evolution of the current sheet as well as the development of the dipolarization front. We show that the flow bouncing took place associated with a tailward-directed j x B force in a disturbed current sheet in addition to an enhanced tailward pressure gradient force. Multiple Earthward propagating dipolarization fronts accompanied by enhanced flux of energetic electrons were observed before the flow bouncing. The sequence of events started with a localized dipolarization front and ended with a large scale (>10R(E)) dipolarization front accompanied by a major increase in energetic electrons at all spacecraft and immediately followed by flow bouncing. Multiple dipolarization fronts result in the formation of compressed magnetic field with a plasma bulge bounded by thin ion-scale current layers, a favorable condition for flow bouncing. These observations suggest that to understand the flow bouncing and related acceleration of plasma in the near-Earth tail, both the large-scale MHD properties and the transient and small-scale effect of the plasma interaction with the Earth-dipole field need to be taken into account.
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| 2. |
- Varsani, A., et al.
(författare)
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Simultaneous Remote Observations of Intense Reconnection Effects by DMSP and MMS Spacecraft During a Storm Time Substorm
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 122:11, s. 10891-10909
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During a magnetic storm on 23 June 2015, several very intense substorms took place, with signatures observed by multiple spacecraft including DMSP and Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS). At the time of interest, DMSP F18 crossed inbound through a poleward expanding auroral bulge boundary at 23.5 h magnetic local time (MLT), while MMS was located duskward of 22 h MLT during an inward crossing of the expanding plasma sheet boundary. The two spacecraft observed a consistent set of signatures as they simultaneously crossed the reconnection separatrix layer during this very intense reconnection event. These include (1) energy dispersion of the energetic ions and electrons traveling earthward, accompanied with high electron energies in the vicinity of the separatrix; (2) energy dispersion of polar rain electrons, with a high-energy cutoff; and (3) intense inward convection of the magnetic field lines at the MMS location. The high temporal resolution measurements by MMS provide unprecedented observations of the outermost electron boundary layer. We discuss the relevance of the energy dispersion of the electrons, and their pitch angle distribution, to the spatial and temporal evolution of the boundary layer. The results indicate that the underlying magnetotail magnetic reconnection process was an intrinsically impulsive and the active X-line was located relatively close to the Earth, approximately at 16-18 R-E.
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| 3. |
- Nakamura, Rumi, et al.
(författare)
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Multiscale Currents Observed by MMS in the Flow Braking Region
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 123:2, s. 1260-1278
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present characteristics of current layers in the off-equatorial near-Earth plasma sheet boundary observed with high time-resolution measurements from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission during an intense substorm associated with multiple dipolarizations. The four Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft, separated by distances of about 50 km, were located in the southern hemisphere in the dusk portion of a substorm current wedge. They observed fast flow disturbances (up to about 500 km/s), most intense in the dawn-dusk direction. Field-aligned currents were observed initially within the expanding plasma sheet, where the flow and field disturbances showed the distinct pattern expected in the braking region of localized flows. Subsequently, intense thin field-aligned current layers were detected at the inner boundary of equatorward moving flux tubes together with Earthward streaming hot ions. Intense Hall current layers were found adjacent to the field-aligned currents. In particular, we found a Hall current structure in the vicinity of the Earthward streaming ion jet that consisted of mixed ion components, that is, hot unmagnetized ions, cold ExB drifting ions, and magnetized electrons. Our observations show that both the near-Earth plasma jet diversion and the thin Hall current layers formed around the reconnection jet boundary are the sites where diversion of the perpendicular currents take place that contribute to the observed field-aligned current pattern as predicted by simulations of reconnection jets. Hence, multiscale structure of flow braking is preserved in the field-aligned currents in the off-equatorial plasma sheet and is also translated to ionosphere to become a part of the substorm field-aligned current system.
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| 4. |
- Retinò, A., et al.
(författare)
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Particle energization in space plasmas : towards a multi-point, multi-scale plasma observatory
- 2021
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Ingår i: Experimental astronomy. - : Springer Nature. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This White Paper outlines the importance of addressing the fundamental science theme “How are charged particles energized in space plasmas” through a future ESA mission. The White Paper presents five compelling science questions related to particle energization by shocks, reconnection, waves and turbulence, jets and their combinations. Answering these questions requires resolving scale coupling, nonlinearity, and nonstationarity, which cannot be done with existing multi-point observations. In situ measurements from a multi-point, multi-scale L-class Plasma Observatory consisting of at least seven spacecraft covering fluid, ion, and electron scales are needed. The Plasma Observatory will enable a paradigm shift in our comprehension of particle energization and space plasma physics in general, with a very important impact on solar and astrophysical plasmas. It will be the next logical step following Cluster, THEMIS, and MMS for the very large and active European space plasmas community. Being one of the cornerstone missions of the future ESA Voyage 2050 science programme, it would further strengthen the European scientific and technical leadership in this important field.
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