| 1. |
- Aran, A., et al.
(författare)
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Evidence for local particle acceleration in the first recurrent galactic cosmic ray depression observed by Solar Orbiter : The ion event on 19 June 2020
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. In mid-June 2020, the Solar Orbiter (SolO) mission reached its first perihelion at 0.51 au and started its cruise phase, with most of the in situ instruments operating continuously.Aims. We present the in situ particle measurements of the first proton event observed after the first perihelion obtained by the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) suite on board SolO. The potential solar and interplanetary (IP) sources of these particles are investigated.Methods. Ion observations from similar to 20 keV to similar to 1 MeV are combined with available solar wind data from the Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument and magnetic field data from the magnetometer on board SolO to evaluate the energetic particle transport conditions and infer the possible acceleration mechanisms through which particles gain energy. We compare > 17-20 MeV ion count rate measurements for two solar rotations, along with the solar wind plasma data available from the Solar Wind Analyser (SWA) and RPW instruments, in order to infer the origin of the observed galactic cosmic ray (GCR) depressions.Results. The lack of an observed electron event and of velocity dispersion at various low-energy ion channels and the observed IP structure indicate a local IP source for the low-energy particles. From the analysis of the anisotropy of particle intensities, we conclude that the low-energy ions were most likely accelerated via a local second-order Fermi process. The observed GCR decrease on 19 June, together with the 51.8-1034.0 keV nuc(-1) ion enhancement, was due to a solar wind stream interaction region (SIR). The observation of a similar GCR decrease in the next solar rotation favours this interpretation and constitutes the first observation of a recurrent GCR decrease by SolO. The analysis of the recurrence times of this SIR suggests that it is the same SIR responsible for the He-4 events previously measured in April and May. Finally, we point out that an IP structure more complex than a common SIR cannot be discarded, mainly due to the lack of solar wind temperature measurements and the lack of a higher cadence of solar wind velocity observations.
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| 2. |
- Carbone, F., et al.
(författare)
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Statistical study of electron density turbulence and ion-cyclotron waves in the inner heliosphere : Solar Orbiter observations
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. The recently released spacecraft potential measured by the RPW instrument on board Solar Orbiter has been used to estimate the solar wind electron density in the inner heliosphere. Aims. The measurement of the solar wind's electron density, taken in June 2020, has been analysed to obtain a thorough characterization of the turbulence and intermittency properties of the fluctuations. Magnetic field data have been used to describe the presence of ion-scale waves. Methods. To study and quantify the properties of turbulence, we extracted selected intervals. We used empirical mode decomposition to obtain the generalized marginal Hilbert spectrum, equivalent to the structure functions analysis, which additionally reduced issues typical of non-stationary, short time series. The presence of waves was quantitatively determined by introducing a parameter describing the time-dependent, frequency-filtered wave power. Results. A well-defined inertial range with power-law scalng was found almost everywhere in the sample studied. However, the Kolmogorov scaling and the typical intermittency effects are only present in fraction of the samples. Other intervals have shallower spectra and more irregular intermittency, which are not described by models of turbulence. These are observed predominantly during intervals of enhanced ion frequency wave activity. Comparisons with compressible magnetic field intermittency (from the MAG instrument) and with an estimate of the solar wind velocity (using electric and magnetic field) are also provided to give general context and help determine the cause of these anomalous fluctuations.
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| 3. |
- Dimmock, A. P., et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of multiscale structures at the quasi-perpendicular Venus bow shock Results from Solar Orbiter's first Venus flyby
- 2022
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 660
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Solar Orbiter is a European Space Agency mission with a suite of in situ and remote sensing instruments to investigate the physical processes across the inner heliosphere. During the mission, the spacecraft is expected to perform multiple Venus gravity assist maneuvers while providing measurements of the Venusian plasma environment. The first of these occurred on 27 December 2020, in which the spacecraft measured the regions such as the distant and near Venus magnetotail, magnetosheath, and bow shock. Aims. This study aims to investigate the outbound Venus bow shock crossing measured by Solar Orbiter during the first flyby. We study the complex features of the bow shock traversal in which multiple large amplitude magnetic field and density structures were observed as well as higher frequency waves. Our aim is to understand the physical mechanisms responsible for these high amplitude structures, characterize the higher frequency waves, determine the source of the waves, and put these results into context with terrestrial bow shock observations. Methods. High cadence magnetic field, electric field, and electron density measurements were employed to characterize the properties of the large amplitude structures and identify the relevant physical process. Minimum variance analysis, theoretical shock descriptions, coherency analysis, and singular value decomposition were used to study the properties of the higher frequency waves to compare and identify the wave mode. Results. The non-planar features of the bow shock are consistent with shock rippling and/or large amplitude whistler waves. Higher frequency waves are identified as whistler-mode waves, but their properties across the shock imply they may be generated by electron beams and temperature anisotropies. Conclusions. The Venus bow shock at a moderately high Mach number (similar to 5) in the quasi-perpendicular regime exhibits complex features similar to the Earth's bow shock at comparable Mach numbers. The study highlights the need to be able to distinguish between large amplitude waves and spatial structures such as shock rippling. The simultaneous high frequency observations also demonstrate the complex nature of energy dissipation at the shock and the important question of understanding cross-scale coupling in these complex regions. These observations will be important to interpreting future planetary missions and additional gravity assist maneuvers.
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| 4. |
- Khotyaintsev, Yu, V, et al.
(författare)
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Density fluctuations associated with turbulence and waves First observations by Solar Orbiter
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that the probe-to-spacecraft potential measured by RPW on Solar Orbiter can be used to derive the plasma (electron) density measurement, which exhibits both a high temporal resolution and a high level of accuracy. To investigate the physical nature of the solar wind turbulence and waves, we analyze the density and magnetic field fluctuations around the proton cyclotron frequency observed by Solar Orbiter during the first perihelion encounter (similar to 0.5AU away from the Sun). Methods. We used the plasma density based on measurements of the probe-to-spacecraft potential in combination with magnetic field measurements by MAG to study the fields and density fluctuations in the solar wind. In particular, we used the polarization of the wave magnetic field, the phase between the compressible magnetic field and density fluctuations, and the compressibility ratio (the ratio of the normalized density fluctuations to the normalized compressible fluctuations of B) to characterize the observed waves and turbulence. Results. We find that the density fluctuations are 180 degrees out of phase (anticorrelated) with the compressible component of magnetic fluctuations for intervals of turbulence, whereas they are in phase for the circular-polarized waves. We analyze, in detail, two specific events with a simultaneous presence of left- and right-handed waves at di fferent frequencies. We compare the observed wave properties to a prediction of the three-fluid (electrons, protons, and alphas) model. We find a limit on the observed wavenumbers, 10(-6) < k < 7 > 10(-6) m(-1), which corresponds to a wavelength of 7 x 10(6) > lambda > 10(6) m. We conclude that it is most likely that both the leftand right-handed waves correspond to the low-wavenumber part (close to the cut-o ff at Omega(cHe++)) of the proton-band electromagnetic ion cyclotron (left-handed wave in the plasma frame confined to the frequency range Omega(cHe++) < omega < Omega(cp)) waves propagating in the outwards and inwards directions, respectively. The fact that both wave polarizations are observed at the same time and the identified wave mode has a low group velocity suggests that the double-banded events occur in the source regions of the waves.
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| 5. |
- Khotyaintsev, Yu, V, et al.
(författare)
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Electron Heating by Debye-Scale Turbulence in Guide-Field Reconnection
- 2020
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 124:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report electrostatic Debye-scale turbulence developing within the diffusion region of asymmetric magnetopause reconnection with amoderate guide field using observations by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. We show that Buneman waves and beam modes cause efficient and fast thermalization of the reconnection electron jet by irreversible phase mixing, during which the jet kinetic energy is transferred into thermal energy. Our results show that the reconnection diffusion region in the presence of a moderate guide field is highly turbulent, and that electrostatic turbulence plays an important role in electron heating.
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| 6. |
- Kollhoff, A., et al.
(författare)
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The first widespread solar energetic particle event observed by Solar Orbiter on 2020 November 29
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. On 2020 November 29, the first widespread solar energetic particle (SEP) event of solar cycle 25 was observed at four widely separated locations in the inner (≲1 AU) heliosphere. Relativistic electrons as well as protons with energies > 50 MeV were observed by Solar Orbiter (SolO), Parker Solar Probe, the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO)-A and multiple near-Earth spacecraft. The SEP event was associated with an M4.4 class X-ray flare and accompanied by a coronal mass ejection and an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wave as well as a type II radio burst and multiple type III radio bursts.Aims. We present multi-spacecraft particle observations and place them in context with source observations from remote sensing instruments and discuss how such observations may further our understanding of particle acceleration and transport in this widespread event.Methods. Velocity dispersion analysis (VDA) and time shift analysis (TSA) were used to infer the particle release times at the Sun. Solar wind plasma and magnetic field measurements were examined to identify structures that influence the properties of the energetic particles such as their intensity. Pitch angle distributions and first-order anisotropies were analyzed in order to characterize the particle propagation in the interplanetary medium.Results. We find that during the 2020 November 29 SEP event, particles spread over more than 230° in longitude close to 1 AU. The particle onset delays observed at the different spacecraft are larger as the flare–footpoint angle increases and are consistent with those from previous STEREO observations. Comparing the timing when the EUV wave intersects the estimated magnetic footpoints of each spacecraft with particle release times from TSA and VDA, we conclude that a simple scenario where the particle release is only determined by the EUV wave propagation is unlikely for this event. Observations of anisotropic particle distributions at SolO, Wind, and STEREO-A do not rule out that particles are injected over a wide longitudinal range close to the Sun. However, the low values of the first-order anisotropy observed by near-Earth spacecraft suggest that diffusive propagation processes are likely involved.
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| 7. |
- Kretzschmar, M., et al.
(författare)
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Whistler waves observed by Solar Orbiter/RPW between 0.5 AU and 1 AU
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Solar wind evolution differs from a simple radial expansion, while wave-particle interactions are assumed to be the major cause for the observed dynamics of the electron distribution function. In particular, whistler waves are thought to inhibit the electron heat flux and ensure the diffusion of the field-aligned energetic electrons (Strahl electrons) to replenish the halo population.Aims. The goal of our study is to detect and characterize the electromagnetic waves that have the capacity to modify the electron distribution functions, with a special focus on whistler waves.Methods. We carried out a detailed analysis of the electric and magnetic field fluctuations observed by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft during its first orbit around the Sun, between 0.5 and 1 AU. Using data from the Search Coil Magnetometer and electric antenna, both part of the Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrumental suite, we detected the electromagnetic waves with frequencies above 3 Hz and determined the statistical distribution of their amplitudes, frequencies, polarization, and k-vector as a function of distance. Here, we also discuss the relevant instrumental issues regarding the phase between the electric and magnetic measurements as well as the effective length of the electric antenna.Results. An overwhelming majority of the observed waves are right-handed circularly polarized in the solar wind frame and identified as outwardly propagating quasi-parallel whistler waves. Their occurrence rate increases by a least a factor of 2 from 1 AU to 0.5 AU. These results are consistent with the regulation of the heat flux by the whistler heat flux instability. Near 0.5 AU, whistler waves are found to be more field-aligned and to have a smaller normalized frequency (f/f(ce)), larger amplitude, and greater bandwidth than at 1 AU.
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| 8. |
- Krämer, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Waves in Magnetosheath Jets-Classification and the Search for Generation Mechanisms Using MMS Burst Mode Data
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 128:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Magnetosheath jets are localized dynamic pressure enhancements in the magnetosheath. We make use of the high time resolution burst mode data of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission for an analysis of waves in plasmas associated with three magnetosheath jets. We find both electromagnetic and electrostatic waves over the frequency range from 0 to 4 kHz that can be probed by the instruments on board the MMS spacecraft. At high frequencies we find electrostatic solitary waves, electron acoustic waves, and whistler waves. Electron acoustic waves and whistler waves show the typical properties expected from theory assuming approximations of a homogeneous plasma and linearity. In addition, 0.2 Hz waves in the magnetic field, 1 Hz electromagnetic waves, and lower hybrid waves are observed. For these waves the approximation of a homogeneous plasma does not hold anymore and the observed waves show properties from several different basic wave modes. In addition, we investigate how the various types of waves are generated. We show evidence that, the 1 Hz waves are connected to gradients in the density and magnetic field. The whistler waves are generated by a butterfly-shaped pitch-angle distribution and the electron acoustic waves by a cold electron population. The lower hybrid waves are probably generated by currents at the boundary of the jets. As for the other waves we can only speculate about the generation mechanism due to limitations of the instruments. Studying waves in jets will help to address the microphysics in jets which can help to understand the evolution of jets better.
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| 9. |
- Lalti, Ahmad, et al.
(författare)
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Whistler Waves in the Foot of Quasi-Perpendicular Supercritical Shocks
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 127:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Whistler waves are thought to play an essential role in the dynamics of collisionless shocks. We use the magnetospheric multiscale spacecraft to study whistler waves around the lower hybrid frequency, upstream of 11 quasi-perpendicular supercritical shocks. We apply the 4-spacecraft timing method to unambiguously determine the wave vector k of whistler waves. We find that the waves are oblique to the background magnetic field with a wave-normal angle between 20 degrees and 42 degrees, and a wavelength of around 100 km, which is close to the ion inertial length. We also find that k is predominantly in the same plane as the magnetic field and the normal to the shock. By combining this precise knowledge of k with high-resolution measurements of the 3D ion velocity distribution, we show that a reflected ion beam is in resonance with the waves, opening up the possibility for wave-particle interaction between the reflected ions and the observed whistlers. The linear stability analysis of a system mimicking the observed distribution suggests that such a system can produce the observed waves.
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| 10. |
- Liu, Chunxin, 1991-, et al.
(författare)
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Cross-scale Dynamics Driven by Plasma Jet Braking in Space
- 2022
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 926:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plasma jets are ubiquitous in space. In geospace, jets can be generated by magnetic reconnection. These reconnection jets, typically at fluid scale, brake in the near-Earth region, dissipate their energies, and drive plasma dynamics at kinetic scales, generating field-aligned currents that are crucial to magnetospheric dynamics. Understanding of the cross-scale dynamics is fundamentally important, but observation of coupling among phenomena at various scales is highly challenging. Here we report, using unprecedentedly high-cadence data from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, the first observation of cross-scale dynamics driven by jet braking in geospace. We find that jet braking causes MHD-scale distortion of magnetic field lines and development of an ion-scale jet front that hosts strong Hall electric fields. Parallel electric fields arising from the ion-scale Hall potential generate intense electron-scale field-aligned currents, which drive strong Debye-scale turbulence. Debye-scale waves conversely limit intensity of the field-aligned currents, thereby coupling back to the large-scale dynamics. Our study can help in understanding how energy deposited in large-scale structures is transferred into small-scale structures in space.
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| 11. |
- Maksimovic, M., et al.
(författare)
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First observations and performance of the RPW instrument on board the Solar Orbiter mission
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument on the ESA Solar Orbiter mission is designed to measure in situ magnetic and electric fields and waves from the continuum up to several hundred kHz. The RPW also observes solar and heliospheric radio emissions up to 16 MHz. It was switched on and its antennae were successfully deployed two days after the launch of Solar Orbiter on February 10, 2020. Since then, the instrument has acquired enough data to make it possible to assess its performance and the electromagnetic disturbances it experiences. In this article, we assess its scientific performance and present the first RPW observations. In particular, we focus on a statistical analysis of the first observations of interplanetary dust by the instrument's Thermal Noise Receiver. We also review the electro-magnetic disturbances that RPW suffers, especially those which potential users of the instrument data should be aware of before starting their research work.
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| 12. |
- Matteini, L., et al.
(författare)
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Solar Orbiter's encounter with the tail of comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) : Magnetic field draping and cometary pick-up ion waves
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Solar Orbiter is expected to have flown close to the tail of comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) during the spacecraft’s first perihelion in June 2020. Models predict a possible crossing of the comet tails by the spacecraft at a distance from the Sun of approximately 0.5 AU.Aims. This study is aimed at identifying possible signatures of the interaction of the solar wind plasma with material released by comet ATLAS, including the detection of draped magnetic field as well as the presence of cometary pick-up ions and of ion-scale waves excited by associated instabilities. This encounter provides us with the first opportunity of addressing such dynamics in the inner Heliosphere and improving our understanding of the plasma interaction between comets and the solar wind.Methods. We analysed data from all in situ instruments on board Solar Orbiter and compared their independent measurements in order to identify and characterize the nature of structures and waves observed in the plasma when the encounter was predicted.Results. We identified a magnetic field structure observed at the start of 4 June, associated with a full magnetic reversal, a local deceleration of the flow and large plasma density, and enhanced dust and energetic ions events. The cross-comparison of all these observations support a possible cometary origin for this structure and suggests the presence of magnetic field draping around some low-field and high-density object. Inside and around this large scale structure, several ion-scale wave-forms are detected that are consistent with small-scale waves and structures generated by cometary pick-up ion instabilities.Conclusions. Solar Orbiter measurements are consistent with the crossing through a magnetic and plasma structure of cometary origin embedded in the ambient solar wind. We suggest that this corresponds to the magnetotail of one of the fragments of comet ATLAS or to a portion of the tail that was previously disconnected and advected past the spacecraft by the solar wind.
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| 13. |
- Norgren, C., et al.
(författare)
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Electron Acceleration and Thermalization at Magnetotail Separatrices
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 125:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study we use the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission to investigate the electron acceleration and thermalization occurring along the magnetic reconnection separatrices in the magnetotail. We find that initially cold electron lobe populations are accelerated toward the X line forming beams with energies up to a few kiloelectron volts, corresponding to a substantial fraction of the electron thermal energy inside the exhaust. The accelerated electron populations are unstable to the formation of electrostatic waves which develop into nonlinear electrostatic solitary waves. The waves' amplitudes are large enough to interact efficiently with a large part of the electron population, including the electron beam. The wave-particle interaction gradually thermalizes the beam, transforming directed drift energy to thermal energy.
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| 14. |
- Norgren, C., et al.
(författare)
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Millisecond observations of nonlinear wave-electron interaction in electron phase space holes
- 2022
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 29:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Electron phase space holes (EHs) associated with electron trapping are commonly observed as bipolar electric field signatures in both space and laboratory plasma. Until recently, it has not been possible to resolve EHs in electron measurements. We report observations of EHs in the plasma sheet boundary layer, here identified as the separatrix region of magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail. The intense EHs are observed together with an electron beam moving toward the X line, showing signs of thermalization. Using the electron drift instrument onboard the satellites of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we make direct millisecond measurements of the electron particle flux associated with individual electron phase space holes. The electron flux is measured at a millisecond cadence in a narrow parallel speed range within that of the trapped electrons. The flux modulations are of order unity and are direct evidence of the strong nonlinear wave-electron interaction that may effectively thermalize beams and contribute to transforming directed drift energy to thermal energy.
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| 15. |
- Palmerio, Erika, et al.
(författare)
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CMEs and SEPs During November-December 2020 : A Challenge for Real-Time Space Weather Forecasting
- 2022
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Ingår i: Space Weather. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 1542-7390. ; 20:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Predictions of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar energetic particles (SEPs) are a central issue in space weather forecasting. In recent years, interest in space weather predictions has expanded to include impacts at other planets beyond Earth as well as spacecraft scattered throughout the heliosphere. In this sense, the scope of space weather science now encompasses the whole heliospheric system, and multipoint measurements of solar transients can provide useful insights and validations for prediction models. In this work, we aim to analyze the whole inner heliospheric context between two eruptive flares that took place in late 2020, that is, the M4.4 flare of 29 November and the C7.4 flare of 7 December. This period is especially interesting because the STEREO-A spacecraft was located similar to 60 degrees east of the Sun-Earth line, giving us the opportunity to test the capabilities of "predictions at 360 degrees" using remote-sensing observations from the Lagrange L1 and L5 points as input. We simulate the CMEs that were ejected during our period of interest and the SEPs accelerated by their shocks using the WSA-Enlil-SEPMOD modeling chain and four sets of input parameters, forming a "mini-ensemble." We validate our results using in situ observations at six locations, including Earth and Mars. We find that, despite some limitations arising from the models' architecture and assumptions, CMEs and shock-accelerated SEPs can be reasonably studied and forecast in real time at least out to several tens of degrees away from the eruption site using the prediction tools employed here.
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| 16. |
- Steinvall, Konrad
(författare)
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Electrostatic plasma waves associated with collisionless magnetic reconnection : Spacecraft observations
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental plasma process where changes in magnetic field topology result in explosive energy conversion, plasma mixing, heating, and energization. In geospace, magnetic reconnection couples the Earth’s magnetosphere to the solar wind plasma, enabling plasma transport across the magnetopause. On the sun, reconnection is responsible for coronal mass ejections and flares, which can affect everyday life on Earth, and it influences the evolution of the solar wind. Although collisionless magnetic reconnection has been studied for a long time, some fundamental aspects of the process remain to be understood. One such aspect is if/how plasma waves affect the process. Simulations and spacecraft observations of magnetic reconnection have shown that plasma waves are ubiquitous during reconnection. Particularly interesting are simulation results which show that electrostatic waves can affect the rate at which reconnection occurs, but this has not yet been experimentally verified. The recently launched Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission was designed to investigate the smallest scales of collisionless magnetic reconnection, making it an excellent mission to study small-scale waves as well. In this thesis, we use MMS to study electrostatic waves associated with magnetic reconnection in geospace. Our first two studies are devoted to the properties of electron holes (EHs), believed to play an important role in collisionless reconnection. Using MMS, we analyze EHs in unprecedented detail, and compare their properties to theory and previous studies. Importantly, we find evidence of EHs radiating whistler waves in the reconnection separatrices, a process which might modulate the reconnection rate. In our third study, we show that the presence of cold ions at the reconnecting magnetopause can lead to the growth of the ion-acoustic instability. This instability leads to dissipation and cold ion heating. The fourth study compares different techniques for determining the velocity of electrostatic waves. Accurate velocity estimates are important, since they are needed to understand how the wave interacts with the plasma. Finally, in our fifth study, we calibrate the E-field measurements made in the solar wind by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft, to aid future studies of solar wind processes, including magnetic reconnection.
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| 17. |
- Steinvall, Konrad, et al.
(författare)
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Large Amplitude Electrostatic Proton Plasma Frequency Waves in the Magnetospheric Separatrix and Outflow Regions During Magnetic Reconnection
- 2021
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 48:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report Magnetospheric Multiscale observations of large amplitude, parallel, electrostatic, proton plasma frequency waves on the magnetospheric side of the reconnecting magnetopause. The waves are often found in the magnetospheric separatrix region and in the outflow near the magnetospheric ion edge. Statistical results from five months of data show that these waves are closely tied to the presence of cold (typically tens of eV) ions, found for 88% of waves near the separatrix region, and that plasma properties are consistent with ion acoustic wavegrowth. We analyze one wave event in detail, concluding that the wave is ion acoustic. We provide a simple explanation for the mechanisms leading to the development of the ion acoustic instability. These waves can be important for separatrix dynamics by heating the cold ion component and providing a mechanism to damp the kinetic Alfven waves propagating away from the reconnection site.
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| 18. |
- Steinvall, Konrad, et al.
(författare)
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Multispacecraft Analysis of Electron Holes
- 2019
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 46:1, s. 55-63
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Electron holes (EHs) are nonlinear electrostatic structures in plasmas. Most previous in situ studies of EHs have been limited to single- and two-spacecraft methods. We present statistics of EHs observed by Magnetospheric Multiscale on the magnetospheric side of the magnetopause during October 2016 when the spacecraft separation was around 6km. Each EH is observed by all four spacecraft, allowing EH properties to be determined with unprecedented accuracy. We find that the parallel length scale, l(vertical bar), scales with the Debye length. The EHs can be separated into three groups of speed and potential based on their coupling to ions. We present a method for calculating the perpendicular length scale, l. The method can be applied to a small subset of the observed EHs for which we find shapes ranging from almost spherical to more oblate. For the remaining EHs we use statistical arguments to find l/l(vertical bar)approximate to 5, implying dominance of oblate EHs. Plain Language Summary Electron holes are positively charged structures moving along the magnetic field and are frequently observed in space plasmas in relation to strong currents and electron beams. Electron holes interact with the plasma, leading to electron heating and scattering. In order to understand the effect of these electron holes, we need to accurately determine their properties, such as velocity, length scale, and potential. Most earlier studies have relied on single- or two-spacecraft methods to analyze electron holes. In this study we use the four satellites of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission to analyze 236 electron holes with unprecedented accuracy. We find that the holes can be divided into three distinct groups with different properties. Additionally, we calculate the width of individual electron holes, finding that they are typically much wider than long, resembling pancakes.
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| 19. |
- Steinvall, Konrad, et al.
(författare)
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Observations of Electromagnetic Electron Holes and Evidence of Cherenkov Whistler Emission
- 2019
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 123:25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report observations of electromagnetic electron holes (EHs). We use multispacecraft analysis to quantify the magnetic field contributions of three mechanisms: the Lorentz transform, electron drift within the EH, and Cherenkov emission of whistler waves. The first two mechanisms account for the observed magnetic fields for slower EHs, while for EHs with speeds approaching half the electron Alfven speed, whistler waves excited via the Cherenkov mechanism dominate the perpendicular magnetic field. The excited whistler waves are kinetically damped and typically confined within the EHs.
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| 20. |
- Steinvall, Konrad, et al.
(författare)
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On the Applicability of Single-Spacecraft Interferometry Methods Using Electric Field Probes
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). ; 127:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- When analyzing plasma waves, a key parameter to determine is the phase velocity. It enables us to, for example, compute wavelengths, wave potentials, and determine the energy of resonant particles. The phase velocity of a wave, observed by a single spacecraft equipped with electric field probes, can be determined using interferometry techniques. While several methods have been developed to do this, they have not been documented in detail. In this study, we use an analytical model to analyze and compare three interferometry methods applied on the probe geometry of the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft. One method relies on measured probe potentials, whereas the other two use different E-field measurements: one by reconstructing the E-field between two probes and the spacecraft, the other by constructing four pairwise parallel E-field components in the spacecraft spin-plane. We find that the potential method is sensitive both to how planar the wave is, and to spacecraft potential changes due to the wave. The E-field methods are less affected by the spacecraft potential, and while the reconstructed E-field method is applicable in some cases, the second E-field method is almost always preferable. We conclude that the potential based interferometry method is useful when spacecraft potential effects are negligible and the signals of the different probes are very well correlated. The method using two pairs of parallel E-fields is practically always preferable to the reconstructed E-field method and produces the correct velocity in the spin-plane, but it requires knowledge of the propagation direction to provide the full velocity.
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| 21. |
- Steinvall, Konrad, et al.
(författare)
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Solar wind current sheets and deHoffmann-Teller analysis First results from Solar Orbiter's DC electric field measurements
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Solar Orbiter was launched on 10 February 2020 with the purpose of investigating solar and heliospheric physics using a payload of instruments designed for both remote and in situ studies. Similar to the recently launched Parker Solar Probe, and unlike earlier missions, Solar Orbiter carries instruments designed to measure low-frequency DC electric fields. Aims. In this paper, we assess the quality of the low-frequency DC electric field measured by the Radio and Plasma Waves instrument (RPW) on Solar Orbiter. In particular, we investigate the possibility of using Solar Orbiter's DC electric and magnetic field data to estimate the solar wind speed. Methods. We used a deHoffmann-Teller (HT) analysis, based on measurements of the electric and magnetic fields, to find the velocity of solar wind current sheets, which minimises a single component of the electric field. By comparing the HT velocity to the proton velocity measured by the Proton and Alpha particle Sensor (PAS), we have developed a simple model for the effective antenna length, L-eff of the E-field probes. We then used the HT method to estimate the speed of the solar wind. Results. Using the HT method, we find that the observed variations in E-y are often in excellent agreement with the variations in the magnetic field. The magnitude of E-y, however, is uncertain due to the fact that the L-eff depends on the plasma environment. Here, we derive an empirical model relating L-eff to the Debye length, which we can use to improve the estimate of E-y and, consequently, the estimated solar wind speed. Conclusions. The low-frequency electric field provided by RPW is of high quality. Using the deHoffmann-Teller analysis, Solar Orbiter's magnetic and electric field measurements can be used to estimate the solar wind speed when plasma data are unavailable.
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| 22. |
- Telloni, Daniele, et al.
(författare)
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Evolution of Solar Wind Turbulence from 0.1 to 1 au during the First Parker Solar Probe-Solar Orbiter Radial Alignment
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 912:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The first radial alignment between Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter spacecraft is used to investigate the evolution of solar wind turbulence in the inner heliosphere. Assuming ballistic propagation, two 1.5 hr intervals are tentatively identified as providing measurements of the same plasma parcels traveling from 0.1 to 1 au. Using magnetic field measurements from both spacecraft, the properties of turbulence in the two intervals are assessed. Magnetic spectral density, flatness, and high-order moment scaling laws are calculated. The Hilbert-Huang transform is additionally used to mitigate short sample and poor stationarity effects. Results show that the plasma evolves from a highly Alfvenic, less-developed turbulence state near the Sun, to fully developed and intermittent turbulence at 1 au. These observations provide strong evidence for the radial evolution of solar wind turbulence.
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| 23. |
- Telloni, D., et al.
(författare)
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Study of two interacting interplanetary coronal mass ejections encountered by Solar Orbiter during its first perihelion passage Observations and modeling
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Solar Orbiter, the new-generation mission dedicated to solar and heliospheric exploration, was successfully launched on February 10, 2020, 04:03 UTC from Cape Canaveral. During its first perihelion passage in June 2020, two successive interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), propagating along the heliospheric current sheet (HCS), impacted the spacecraft.Aims. This paper addresses the investigation of the ICMEs encountered by Solar Orbiter on June 7-8, 2020, from both an observational and a modeling perspective. The aim is to provide a full description of those events, their mutual interaction, and their coupling with the ambient solar wind and the HCS.Methods. Data acquired by the MAG magnetometer, the Energetic Particle Detector suite, and the Radio and Plasma Waves instrument are used to provide information on the ICMEs' magnetic topology configuration, their magnetic connectivity to the Sun, and insights into the heliospheric plasma environment where they travel, respectively. On the modeling side, the Heliospheric Upwind eXtrapolation model, the 3D COronal Rope Ejection technique, and the EUropean Heliospheric FORecasting Information Asset (EUHFORIA) tool are used to complement Solar Orbiter observations of the ambient solar wind and ICMEs, and to simulate the evolution and interaction of the ejecta in the inner heliosphere, respectively.Results. Both data analysis and numerical simulations indicate that the passage of two distinct, dynamically and magnetically interacting (via magnetic reconnection processes) ICMEs at Solar Orbiter is a possible scenario, supported by the numerous similarities between EUHFORIA time series at Solar Orbiter and Solar Orbiter data.Conclusions. The combination of in situ measurements and numerical simulations (together with remote sensing observations of the corona and inner heliosphere) will significantly lead to a deeper understanding of the physical processes occurring during the CME-CME interaction.
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| 24. |
- Wang, R., et al.
(författare)
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Electrostatic Solitary Waves in the Earth's Bow Shock : Nature, Properties, Lifetimes, and Origin
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 126:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a statistical analysis of >2,100 bipolar electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) collected from 10 quasi-perpendicular Earth's bow shock crossings by Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft. We developed and implemented a correction procedure for reconstruction of actual electric fields, velocities, and other properties of ESW, whose spatial scales are typically comparable with or smaller than spatial distance between voltage-sensitive probes. We found that more than 95% of the ESW are of negative polarity with amplitudes typically below a few Volts and 0.1T(e) (5-30 V or 0.1-0.3T(e) for a few percent of ESW), spatial scales of 10-100 m or lambda(D)-10 lambda(D), and velocities from a few tens to a few hundred km/s that is on the order of local ion-acoustic speed. The spatial scales of ESW are correlated with local Debye length lambda(D). The ESW have electric fields generally oblique to magnetic field and they propagate highly oblique to shock normal N; more than 80% of ESW propagate within 30 degrees of the shock plane LM. In the shock plane, ESW typically propagates within a few tens of degrees of local magnetic field projection B-LM and preferentially opposite to N x B-LM. We argue that the ESW of negative polarity are ion holes produced by ion-ion streaming instabilities. We estimate ion hole lifetimes to be 10-100 ms, or 1-10 km in terms of traveling distance. The revealed statistical properties will be useful for quantitative studies of electron thermalization in the Earth's bow shock.
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