| 1. |
- Deng, X. H., et al.
(författare)
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Dynamics and waves near multiple magnetic null points in reconnection diffusion region
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 114:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Identifying the magnetic structure in the region where the magnetic field lines break and how reconnection happens is crucial to improving our understanding of three-dimensional reconnection. Here we show the in situ observation of magnetic null structures in the diffusion region, the dynamics, and the associated waves. Possible spiral null pair has been identified near the diffusion region. There is a close relation among the null points, the bipolar signature of the Z component of the magnetic field, and enhancement of the flux of energetic electrons up to 100 keV. Near the null structures, whistler-mode waves were identified by both the polarity and the power law of the spectrum of electric and magnetic fields. It is found that the angle between the fans of the nulls is quite close to the theoretically estimated maximum value of the group-velocity cone angle for the whistler wave regime of reconnection.
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| 2. |
- Farrugia, C. J., et al.
(författare)
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"Crater" flux transfer events : Highroad to the X line?
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 116:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We examine Cluster observations of a so-called magnetosphere "crater FTE," employing data from five instruments (FGM, CIS, EDI, EFW, and WHISPER), some at the highest resolution. The aim of doing this is to deepen our understanding of the reconnection nature of these events by applying recent advances in the theory of collisionless reconnection and in detailed observational work. Our data support the hypothesis of a stratified structure with regions which we show to be spatial structures. We support the bulge-like topology of the core region (R3) made up of plasma jetting transverse to reconnected field lines. We document encounters with a magnetic separatrix as a thin layer embedded in the region (R2) just outside the bulge, where the speed of the protons flowing approximately parallel to the field maximizes: (1) short (fraction of a sec) bursts of enhanced electric field strengths (up to similar to 30 mV/m) and (2) electrons flowing against the field toward the X line at approximately the same time as the bursts of intense electric fields. R2 also contains a density decrease concomitant with an enhanced magnetic field strength. At its interface with the core region, R3, electric field activity ceases abruptly. The accelerated plasma flow profile has a catenary shape consisting of beams parallel to the field in R2 close to the R2/R3 boundary and slower jets moving across the magnetic field within the bulge region. We detail commonalities our observations of crater FTEs have with reconnection structures in other scenarios. We suggest that in view of these properties and their frequency of occurrence, crater FTEs are ideal places to study processes at the separatrices, key regions in magnetic reconnection. This is a good preparation for the MMS mission.
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| 3. |
- Forsyth, C., et al.
(författare)
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Temporal evolution and electric potential structure of the auroral acceleration region from multispacecraft measurements
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 117:12, s. A12203-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bright aurorae can be excited by the acceleration of electrons into the atmosphere in violation of ideal magnetohydrodynamics. Modeling studies predict that the accelerating electric potential consists of electric double layers at the boundaries of an acceleration region but observations suggest that particle acceleration occurs throughout this region. Using multispacecraft observations from Cluster, we have examined two upward current regions on 14 December 2009. Our observations show that the potential difference below C4 and C3 changed by up to 1.7 kV between their respective crossings, which were separated by 150 s. The field-aligned current density observed by C3 was also larger than that observed by C4. The potential drop above C3 and C4 was approximately the same in both crossings. Using a novel technique of quantitively comparing the electron spectra measured by Cluster 1 and 3, which were separated in altitude, we determine when these spacecraft made effectively magnetically conjugate observations, and we use these conjugate observations to determine the instantaneous distribution of the potential drop in the AAR. Our observations show that an average of 15% of the potential drop in the AAR was located between C1 at 6235 km and C3 at 4685 km altitude, with a maximum potential drop between the spacecraft of 500 V, and that the majority of the potential drop was below C3. Assuming a spatial invariance along the length of the upward current region, we discuss these observations in terms of temporal changes and the vertical structure of the electrostatic potential drop and in the context of existing models and previous single- and multispacecraft observations.
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| 4. |
- Hasegawa, H., et al.
(författare)
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Reconstruction of a bipolar magnetic signature in an earthward jet in the tail : Flux rope or 3D guide-field reconnection?
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 112:A11, s. A11206-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Southward-then-northward magnetic perturbations are often seen in the tail plasma sheet, along with earthward jets, but the generation mechanism of such bipolar B-z ( magnetic flux rope created through multiple X-line reconnection, transient reconnection, or else) has been controversial. At similar to 2313 UT on 13 August 2002, Cluster encountered a bipolar B-z at the leading edge of an earthward jet, with one of the four spacecraft in the middle of the current sheet. Application to this bipolar signature of Grad-Shafranov ( GS) reconstruction, the technique for recovery of two-dimensional ( 2D) magnetohydrostatic structures, suggests that a flux rope with diameter of similar to 2 R-E was embedded in the jet. To investigate the validity of the GS results, the technique is applied to synthetic data from a three-dimensional ( 3D) MHD simulation, in which a bipolar B-z can be produced through localized ( 3D) reconnection in the presence of guide field B-y ( Shirataka et al., 2006) without invoking multiple X-lines. A flux rope-type structure, which does not in fact exist in the simulation, is reconstructed but with a shape elongated in the jet direction. Unambiguous identification of a mechanism that leads to an observed bipolar B-z thus seems difficult based on the topological property in the GS maps. We however infer that a flux rope was responsible for the bipolar pulse in this particular Cluster event, because the recovered magnetic structure is roughly circular, suggesting a relaxed and minimum energy state. Our results also indicate that one has to be cautious about interpretation of some ( e. g., force-free, or magnetohydrostatic) model-based results.
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| 5. |
- Keika, K., et al.
(författare)
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Response of the inner magnetosphere and the plasma sheet to a sudden impulse
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 113:A7, s. A07S35-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- [1] The passage of an interplanetary shock caused a sudden compression of the magnetosphere between 0900 UT and 0915 UT on 24 August 2005. An estimate of the shock normal from solar wind data obtained by Geotail upstream of the bow shock indicates symmetric compression with respect to the noon-midnight meridian. Compression-related disturbances of the magnetic and electric field and plasma motion were observed by Double Star Program (DSP) Tan Ce 1 (TC1) and Tan Ce 2 (TC2) in the inner magnetosphere and by the Cluster spacecraft in the dawnside plasma sheet. DSP/TC1 and TC2 observations suggest that the disturbances in the inner magnetosphere are propagating from the dayside magnetopause. Cluster S/C 4 observations indicate that the front normal of the disturbances in the dawnside plasma sheet is phi similar to 180 degrees at 0902: 50 UT and phi = 107 degrees at 0904: 34 UT, where phi is the longitude in GSM coordinates, if we assume that the measured electric field is on the front plane and the normal lies on the X-Y plane. The timing analysis applied to magnetic field data from the four Cluster spacecraft independently gives a front normal, which is calculated to be phi =131 degrees at about 0904: 20 UT. Shock-associated magnetic and electric field disturbances propagating from both the dayside and flank magnetopauses are detected in the plasma sheet; the latter makes the dominant contribution. Substorms are, however, not triggered at the passage of the disturbances.
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| 6. |
- Marklund, Göran T., et al.
(författare)
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Cluster multipoint study of the acceleration potential pattern and electrodynamics of an auroral surge and its associated horn arc
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 117:10, s. A10223-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cluster results are presented from the acceleration region of an auroral surge and connected horn arc, observed during an extended time period of substorm activity. The Cluster spacecraft crossed different magnetic local time (MLT) sectors of the surge and horn, with lag times of 2-10 min. Acceleration potential patterns are derived for the horn arc and for the double arc (surge and horn) at the surge front and deeper into the surge. The parallel potential drop of the horn arc ranged between 4 and 7 kV. At the surge front, two weakly coupled U-potentials with parallel potential drops of 8 (7) kV and 7 (5) kV were derived for the surge and horn, respectively, from the C3 (C4) data. A similar, more coupled pattern was derived for the region deeper into the surge. We also address how the field-aligned currents of the surge and horn system close in the ionosphere. The Cluster data allow almost simultaneous estimates of the latitudinal current closure at various MLT sectors. Significant net upward currents are derived for the horn and surge, whereas the currents at the surge front were found to be balanced. The net upward horn current is proposed to be fed by the zonal divergence of the westward Pedersen current in the horn, consistent with the acceleration potential decrease in the westward horn direction. The net upward surge current is proposed to be fed by the divergence of a westward electrojet and by localized downward currents adjacent to the surge.
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| 7. |
- Marklund, Göran T., et al.
(författare)
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Evolution in space and time of the quasi-static acceleration potential of inverted-V aurora and its interaction with Alfvenic boundary processes
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 116, s. A00K13-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Results are presented from Cluster crossings of the acceleration region of two inverted-V auroras located in the poleward part of an extensive substorm bulge. The particle and field data are used to infer the acceleration potentials of the arcs and their distribution in altitude and latitude. The C1 data are consistent with a symmetric potential pattern, composed of two negative U potentials and one positive U potential in between, and the C3 and C4 data are consistent with an asymmetric pattern, where the dominating potential structure extends deep into the polar cap boundary (PCB) region. The two patterns may either correspond to different stages of evolution of the same double arc system or represent two longitudinally separated double arc systems. For all spacecraft, the potential well of the poleward arc extends into the PCB region, whereas the density cavity does not but remains confined to R1. This suggests that the Alfvenic activity observed within the PCB region prevents the cavity formation, consistent with the associated FACs being roughly balanced over this region. The results show that Alfvenic and quasi-static acceleration operates jointly in the PCB region, varying from being about equally important (on C1) to being predominantly quasi-static (on C3/C4). The presence (absence) of an upward electron beam, associated with a positive potential structure and a downward current, observed by C1 (C4/C3) is expected from its short life time, shorter than the time lag between the Cluster spacecraft. The evolution involves both a broadening and a density reduction of the associated downward current sheet to below the critical current density above which parallel electric fields will form. The deepest potential well of 13 kV observed by C4 was located in Region 1, adjacent to the PCB region and coinciding with the deepest density cavity, with a minimum density of 0.1 cm(-3). The interface between Region 1 and the PCB region, coinciding with the steep density gradient, appears to be the leading edge of the cavity.
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| 8. |
- Nakamura, R., et al.
(författare)
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Cluster observations of an ion-scale current sheet in the magnetotail under the presence of a guide field
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 113:A7, s. A07S16-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report on Cluster observations of a thin current sheet interval under the presence of a strong vertical bar B-Y vertical bar during a fast earthward flow interval between 1655 UT and 1703 UT on 17 August 2003. The strong vertical bar B-Y vertical bar in the tail could be associated with a strong IMF vertical bar B-Y vertical bar, but the large fluctuations in B-Y, not seen in the IMF, suggest that a varying reconnection rate causes a varying transport of B-Y-dominated magnetic flux and/or a change in B-Y due to the Hall-current system. During the encounter of the high-speed flow, an intense current layer was observed around 1655: 53 UT with a peak current density of 182 nA/m(2), the largest current density observed by the Cluster four-spacecraft magnetic field measurement in the magnetotail. The half width of this current layer was estimated to be similar to 290 km, which was comparable to the ion-inertia length. Its unique signature is that the strong current is mainly field-aligned current flowing close to the center of the plasma sheet. The event was associated with parallel heating of electrons with asymmetries, which suggests that electrons moving along the field lines can contribute to a strong dawn-to-dusk current when the magnetotail current sheet becomes sufficiently thin and active in a strong guide field case.
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| 9. |
- 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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| 10. |
- Puhl-Quinn, P. A., et al.
(författare)
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Cluster and DMSP observations of SAID electric fields
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 112:A5, s. A05219-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- [1] We report on magnetically conjugate Cluster and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite observations of subauroral ion drifts (SAID) during moderate geomagnetic activity levels on 8 April 2004. To our knowledge, the field-aligned separation of DMSP and Cluster (approximate to 28,000 km) is the largest separation ever analyzed with respect to the SAID phenomenon. Nonetheless, we show coherent, subauroral magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) coupling along an entire field line in the post-dusk sector. The four Cluster satellites crossed SAID electric field channels with meridional magnitude E-M of 25 mV/m in situ and latitudinal extent Delta Lambda approximate to 0.5 degrees in the southern and northern hemispheres near 07:00 and 07:30 UT, respectively. Cluster was near perigee (R approximate to 4 R-E) and within 5 degrees (15 degrees) of the magnetic equator for the southern ( northern) crossing. The SAID were located near the plasmapause-within the ring current-plasmasphere overlap region. Downward field-aligned current signatures were observed across both SAID crossings. The most magnetically and temporally conjugate SAID field from DMSP F16A at 07:12 UT was practically identical in latitudinal size to that mapped from Cluster. Since the DMSP ion drift meter saturated at 3000 m/s (or similar to 114 mV/m) and the electrostatically mapped value for E-M from Cluster exceeded 300 mV/m, a magnitude comparison of E-M was not possible. Although the conjugate measurements show similar large-scale SAID features, the differences in substructure highlight the physical and chemical diversity of the conjugate regions.
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