| 1. |
- Nakamura, Rumi, et al.
(author)
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Multiscale Currents Observed by MMS in the Flow Braking Region
- 2018
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 123:2, s. 1260-1278
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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| 2. |
- Nakamura, Rumi, et al.
(author)
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Near-Earth plasma sheet boundary dynamics during substorm dipolarization
- 2017
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In: Earth Planets and Space. - : Springer Berlin/Heidelberg. - 1343-8832 .- 1880-5981. ; 69
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report on the large-scale evolution of dipolarization in the near-Earth plasma sheet during an intense (AL similar to -1000 nT) substorm on August 10, 2016, when multiple spacecraft at radial distances between 4 and 15 RE were present in the night-side magnetosphere. This global dipolarization consisted of multiple short-timescale (a couple of minutes) Bz disturbances detected by spacecraft distributed over 9 MLT, consistent with the large-scale substorm current wedge observed by ground-based magnetometers. The four spacecraft of the Magnetospheric Multiscale were located in the southern hemisphere plasma sheet and observed fast flow disturbances associated with this dipolarization. The high-time-resolution measurements from MMS enable us to detect the rapid motion of the field structures and flow disturbances separately. A distinct pattern of the flow and field disturbance near the plasma boundaries was found. We suggest that a vortex motion created around the localized flows resulted in another fieldaligned current system at the off-equatorial side of the BBF-associated R1/R2 systems, as was predicted by the MHD simulation of a localized reconnection jet. The observations by GOES and Geotail, which were located in the opposite hemisphere and local time, support this view. We demonstrate that the processes of both Earthward flow braking and of accumulated magnetic flux evolving tailward also control the dynamics in the boundary region of the near-Earth plasma sheet.
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| 3. |
- Catapano, Filomena, et al.
(author)
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In Situ Evidence of Ion Acceleration between Consecutive Reconnection Jet Fronts
- 2021
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 908:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Processes driven by unsteady reconnection can efficiently accelerate particles in many astrophysical plasmas. An example is the reconnection jet fronts in an outflow region. We present evidence of suprathermal ion acceleration between two consecutive reconnection jet fronts observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in the terrestrial magnetotail. An earthward propagating jet is approached by a second faster jet. Between the jets, the thermal ions are mostly perpendicular to magnetic field, are trapped, and are gradually accelerated in the parallel direction up to 150 keV. Observations suggest that ions are predominantly accelerated by a Fermi-like mechanism in the contracting magnetic bottle formed between the two jet fronts. The ion acceleration mechanism is presumably efficient in other environments where jet fronts produced by variable rates of reconnection are common and where the interaction of multiple jet fronts can also develop a turbulent environment, e.g., in stellar and solar eruptions.
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| 4. |
- Eriksson, Elin, 1989-, et al.
(author)
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Electron Energization at a Reconnecting Magnetosheath Current Sheet
- 2018
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 45:16, s. 8081-8090
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present observations of electron energization within a sub-ion-scale magnetosheath current sheet (CS). A number of signatures indicate ongoing reconnection, including the thickness of the CS (similar to 0.7 ion inertial length), nonzero normal magnetic field, Hall magnetic fields with electrons carrying the Hall currents, and electron heating. We observe localized electron acceleration and heating parallel to the magnetic field at the edges of the CS. Electrostatic waves observed in these regions have low phase velocity and small wave potentials and thus cannot provide the observed acceleration and heating. Instead, we find that the electrons are accelerated by a parallel potential within the separatrix regions. Similar acceleration has been reported based on magnetopause and magnetotail observations. Thus, despite the different plasma conditions in magnetosheath, magnetopause, and magnetotail, the acceleration mechanism and corresponding heating of electrons is similar. Plain Language Summary Magnetic reconnection is an important physical energy conversion process in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. The easiest place to analyze magnetic reconnection is in near-Earth space. Due to lack of sufficient electron resolution of previous spacecraft missions, there are many unanswered questions regarding electron heating and acceleration processes at small scales. In particular, the regime where thermal pressure dominates over magnetic pressure, the most common state of plasmas in the Universe, is little explored. In this letter we study such a regime using the four-spacecraft Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. We analyze a reconnecting current sheet in the magnetosheath. We show that electrons are energized by a parallel potential, similar to what has been observed in the different plasma regimes the magnetopause and magnetotail. Thus, despite different plasma conditions, a similar acceleration mechanism and corresponding heating of electrons is occurring in all these regions.
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| 5. |
- Franci, Luca, et al.
(author)
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Modeling MMS Observations at the Earth's Magnetopause with Hybrid Simulations of Alfvenic Turbulence
- 2020
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 898:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations of plasma turbulence generated by a Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) event at the Earth's magnetopause are compared with a high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) hybrid direct numerical simulation of decaying plasma turbulence driven by large-scale balanced Alfvenic fluctuations. The simulation, set up with four observation-driven physical parameters (ion and electron betas, turbulence strength, and injection scale), exhibits a quantitative agreement on the spectral, intermittency, and cascade-rate properties with in situ observations, despite the different driving mechanisms. Such agreement demonstrates a certain universality of the turbulent cascade from magnetohydrodynamic to sub-ion scales, whose properties are mainly determined by the selected parameters, also indicating that the KH instability-driven turbulence has a quasi-2D nature. The fact that our results are compatible with the validity of the Taylor hypothesis, in the whole range of scales investigated numerically, suggests that the fluctuations at sub-ion scales might have predominantly low frequencies. This would be consistent with a kinetic Alfven wave-like nature and/or with the presence of quasi-static structures. Finally, the third-order structure function analysis indicates that the cascade rate of the turbulence generated by a KH event at the magnetopause is an order of magnitude larger than in the ambient magnetosheath.
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| 6. |
- Giagkiozis, Stefanos, et al.
(author)
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Statistical Study of the Properties of Magnetosheath Lion Roars
- 2018
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 123:7, s. 5435-5451
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lion roars are narrowband whistler wave emissions that have been observed in several environments, such as planetary magnetosheaths, the Earth's magnetosphere, the solar wind, downstream of interplanetary shocks, and the cusp region. We present measurements of more than 30,000 such emissions observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft with high-cadence (8,192 samples/s) search coil magnetometer data. A semiautomatic algorithm was used to identify the emissions, and an adaptive interval algorithm in conjunction with minimum variance analysis was used to determine their wave vector. The properties of the waves are determined in both the spacecraft and plasma rest frame. The mean wave normal angle, with respect to the background magnetic field (B-0), plasma bulk flow velocity (V-b), and the coplanarity plane (V-b x B-0) are 23 degrees, 56 degrees, and 0 degrees, respectively. The average peak frequencies were similar to 31% of the electron gyrofrequency (omega(ce)) observed in the spacecraft frame and similar to 18% of omega(ce) in the plasma rest frame. In the spacecraft frame, similar to 99% of the emissions had a frequency < omega(ce), while 98% had a peak frequency < 0.72 omega(ce) in the plasma rest frame. None of the waves had frequencies lower than the lower hybrid frequency, omega. From the probability density function of the electron plasma beta(e), the ratio between the electron thermal and magnetic pressure, similar to 99.6% of the waves were observed with beta(e) < 4 with a large narrow peak at 0.07 and two smaller, but wider, peaks at 1.26 and 2.28, while the average value was similar to 1.25.
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| 7. |
- Hull, Arthur J., et al.
(author)
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Energy Transport and Conversion Within Earth's Supercritical Bow Shock: The Role of Intense Lower-Hybrid Whistler Waves
- 2024
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 129:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Detailed analysis of a high Mach number quasiperpendicular Earth bow shock crossing by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft fleet reveal that lower-hybrid (LH) whistler waves generated in the shock foot region transport energy predominately along the shock surface and slightly toward the shock ramp in the shock normal incidence frame, where wave energy accumulates and is dissipated into the plasma. This suggests the LH whistlers play an integral role in energy reconfiguration at high Mach number collisionless shocks with ramifications to plasma heating. The multipoint observations are used to quantify the wave characteristic parameters (via interferometry), Poynting fluxes, and energy conversion rates D, and to assess their scale dependencies and spatial and temporal properties. The whistler associated energy transport and conversion are found to depend on scale and location within the layer. High-frequency electrostatic waves yield largest values of D. However, the dominant net energy exchange contribution is from the LH whistlers. In the foot spatially temporally coherent net energy exchange from the plasma to whistlers is observed, whereas deeper in the ramp net wave energy dissipation to the plasma is observed exhibiting significant space-time variability. These results are consistent with the modified two stream instability driven by the relative drift between reflected ions and electrons as the mechanism for wave growth in the foot. Owing to strong electron heating, whistler energy dissipation in the ramp is attributed to Landau damping, which out-competes the destabilizing effect of the reflected ion and electron drift.
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| 8. |
- Li, Jinxing, et al.
(author)
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Local Excitation of Whistler Mode Waves and Associated Langmuir Waves at Dayside Reconnection Regions
- 2018
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 45:17, s. 8793-8802
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the Earth's dayside reconnection boundary layer, whistler mode waves coincide with magnetic field openings and the formation of the resultant anisotropic electrons. Depending on the energy range of anisotropic electrons, whistlers can grow at frequencies in the upper and/or lower band. Observations show that whistler mode waves modulate Langmuir wave amplitude as they propagate toward the X line. Observations of whistler mode wave phase and Langmuir waves packets, as well as coincident electron measurements, reveal that whistler mode waves can accelerate electrons via Landau resonance at locations where E(parallel to)is antiparallel to the wave propagation direction. The accelerated electrons produce localized beams, which subsequently drive the periodically modulated Langmuir waves. The close association of those two wave modes reveals the microscale electron dynamics in the exhaust region, and the proposed mechanism could potentially be applied to explain the modulation events observed in planetary magnetospheres and in the solar wind. Plain Language Summary The Sun's and Earth's magnetic field can merge and reconnect on dayside magnetopause. Using measurements from NASA's MMS spacecraft, we report that a class of electromagnetic wave, named whistler mode wave, coincides with the reconnected magnetic field lines. Besides, those whistlers are observed to modulate the electric field oscillations, known as Langmuir waves. Using high-resolution wave and particle measurements, we explain that the whistlers are locally excited when electrons from both sides of the magnetopause mix and form an unstable distribution. The modulated Langmuir waves are generated due to localized electron acceleration, which occurs when the velocity of electrons matches that of whistlers in the direction along the magnetic field. The whistler mode waves and associated Langmuir waves can be used as an additional tool to remotely sense the occurrence of magnetic reconnections.
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| 9. |
- Ni, Binbin, et al.
(author)
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Global distribution of electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic waves observed on THEMIS
- 2011
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 38, s. L17105-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A global, statistical analysis of electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves is performed using THEMIS wave data. Our results confirm the high occurrence of <1 mV/m ECH emissions throughout the outer magnetosphere (L > 5). The strongest (>= 1 mV/m) ECH waves are enhanced during geomagnetically disturbed periods, and are mainly confined close to the magnetic equator (|lambda| < 3 degrees) over the region L <= 10 in the night and dawn MLT sector. ECH wave intensities within 3 degrees <= |lambda| < 6 degrees are generally much weaker but not negligible especially for L < similar to 12 on the midnight side. Furthermore, the occurrence rates and variability of moderately intense (>= 0.1 mV/m) ECH emissions suggest that ECH wave scattering could contribute to diffuse auroral precipitation in the outer (L > 8) magnetosphere where chorus emissions are statistically weak.
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| 10. |
- Pan, Dong-Xiao, et al.
(author)
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Rippled Electron-Scale Structure of a Dipolarization Front
- 2018
-
In: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 45:22, s. 12116-12124
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We use the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission to investigate electron-scale structures at a dipolarization front. The four spacecraft are separated by electron scales and observe large differences in plasma and field parameters within the dipolarization front, indicating strong deviation from typically assumed plane or slightly curved front surface. We attribute this to ripples generated by the lower hybrid drift instability (LHDI) with wave number of k(rho e)similar or equal to 0.4 and maximum wave potential of similar to 1 kV similar to k(B)T(e). Power law-like spectra of E-perpendicular to with slope of -3 indicates the turbulent cascade of LHDI. LHDI is observed together with bursty high-frequency parallel electric fields, suggesting coupling of LHDI to higher-frequency electrostatic waves. Plain Language Summary Dipolarization fronts (DFs) are narrow boundaries with sharp enhancement of magnetic field, located at the leading part of fast plasma jets observed in Earth's magnetotail. DFs are typically assumed to be smooth boundaries at scales comparable to the ion gyroradius and below. In this study, we use the four Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft separated by several electron gyroradii to investigate fine structure of a DF. Surprisingly, we observe significant differences in the fields and plasma measurements between the spacecraft despite their small separation. We attribute these signatures to electron-scale disturbances propagating along the DF surface, and thus the DF surface is not smooth as expected but rather rippled. The ripples develop as a result of a plasma instability driven by the strong inhomogeneities present at the DF. The fact that the ripples have such small scales means that they can effectively interact with plasma electrons.
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| 11. |
- Sorriso-Valvo, Luca, et al.
(author)
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Sign Singularity of the Local Energy Transfer in Space Plasma Turbulence
- 2019
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In: Frontiers in Physics. - : FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. - 2296-424X. ; 7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In weakly collisional space plasmas, the turbulent cascade provides most of the energy that is dissipated at small scales by various kinetic processes. Understanding the characteristics of such dissipative mechanisms requires the accurate knowledge of the fluctuations that make energy available for conversion at small scales, as different dissipation processes are triggered by fluctuations of a different nature. The scaling properties of different energy channels are estimated here using a proxy of the local energy transfer, based on the third-order moment scaling law for magnetohydrodynamic turbulence. In particular, the sign-singularity analysis was used to explore the scaling properties of the alternating positive-negative energy fluxes, thus providing information on the structure and topology of such fluxes for each of the different type of fluctuations. The results show the highly complex geometrical nature of the flux, and that the local contributions associated with energy and cross-helicity non-linear transfer have similar scaling properties. Consequently, the fractal properties of current and vorticity structures are similar to those of the Alfvenic fluctuations.
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| 12. |
- Sorriso-Valvo, Luca, et al.
(author)
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Turbulence-Driven Ion Beams in the Magnetospheric Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability
- 2019
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In: Physical Review Letters. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 122:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The description of the local turbulent energy transfer and the high-resolution ion distributions measured by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission together provide a formidable tool to explore the cross-scale connection between the fluid-scale energy cascade and plasma processes at subion scales. When the small-scale energy transfer is dominated by Alfvenic, correlated velocity, and magnetic field fluctuations, beams of accelerated particles are more likely observed. Here, for the first time, we report observations suggesting the nonlinear wave-particle interaction as one possible mechanism for the energy dissipation in space plasmas.
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| 13. |
- Steinvall, Konrad, et al.
(author)
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Observations of Electromagnetic Electron Holes and Evidence of Cherenkov Whistler Emission
- 2019
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In: Physical Review Letters. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 123:25
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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| 14. |
- Tang, Binbin, et al.
(author)
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Magnetic depression and electron transport in an ion-scale flux rope associated with Kelvin-Helmholtz waves
- 2018
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In: Annales Geophysicae. - : COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 36:3, s. 879-889
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report an ion-scale magnetic flux rope (the size of the flux rope is similar to 8.5 ion inertial lengths) at the trailing edge of Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) waves observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission on 27 September 2016, which is likely generated by multiple X-line reconnection. The currents of this flux rope are highly filamentary: in the central flux rope, the current flows are mainly parallel to the magnetic field, supporting a local magnetic field increase at about 7 nT, while at the edges the current filaments are predominantly along the antiparallel direction, which induce an opposing field that causes a significant magnetic depression along the axis direction (> 20 nT), meaning the overall magnetic field of this flux rope is depressed compared to the ambient magnetic field. Thus, this flux rope, accompanied by the plasma thermal pressure enhancement in the center, is referred to as a crater type. Intense lower hybrid drift waves (LHDWs) are found at the magnetospheric edge of the flux rope, and the wave potential is estimated to be similar to 17% of the electron temperature. Though LHDWs may be stabilized by the mechanism of electron resonance broadening, these waves could still effectively enable diffusive electron transports in the cross-field direction, corresponding to a local density dip. This indicates LHDWs could play important roles in the evolution of crater flux ropes.
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| 15. |
- Taubenschuss, Ulrich, et al.
(author)
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Different types of whistler mode chorus in the equatorial source region
- 2015
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 42:20, s. 8271-8279
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms-D spacecraft crossed an active equatorial source region of whistler mode chorus rising tones on 23 October 2008. Rising tones are analyzed in terms of spectral and polarization characteristics, with special emphasis on wave normal angles. The latter exhibit large variations from quasi-parallel to oblique, even within single bursts, but seem to follow a definite pattern, which enables an unambiguous classification into five different groups. Furthermore, we discuss the frequently observed splitting of chorus bursts into a lower and an upper band around one half of the local electron cyclotron frequency. At chorus frequencies close to the gap, we find significantly lowered wave planarities and a tendency of wave normal angles to approach the Gendrin angle.
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| 16. |
- Taubenschuss, Ulrich, et al.
(author)
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Wave normal angles of whistler mode chorus rising and falling tones
- 2014
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 119:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present a study of wave normal angles (theta(k)) of whistler mode chorus emission as observed by Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) during the year 2008. The three inner THEMIS satellites THA, THD, and THE usually orbit Earth close to the dipole magnetic equator (+/- 20 degrees), covering a large range of L shells from the plasmasphere out to the magnetopause. Waveform measurements of electric and magnetic fields enable a detailed polarization analysis of chorus below 4 kHz. When displayed in a frequency-theta(k) histogram, four characteristic regions of occurrence are evident. They are separated by gaps at f/f(c,e) approximate to 0.5 (f is the chorus frequency, f(c,e) is the local electron cyclotron frequency) and at theta(k) similar to 40 degrees. Below theta(k) similar to 40 degrees, the average value for theta(k) is predominantly field aligned, but slightly increasing with frequency toward half of f(c,e) (theta(k) up to 20 degrees). Above half of f(c,e), the average theta(k) is again decreasing with frequency. Above theta(k) similar to 40 degrees, wave normal angles are usually close to the resonance cone angle. Furthermore, we present a detailed comparison of electric and magnetic fields of chorus rising and falling tones. Falling tones exhibit peaks in occurrence solely for theta(k) > 40 degrees and are propagating close to the resonance cone angle. Nevertheless, when comparing rising tones to falling tones at theta(k) > 40 degrees, the ratio of magnetic to electric field shows no significant differences. Thus, we conclude that falling tones are generated under similar conditions as rising tones, with common source regions close to the magnetic equatorial plane.
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| 17. |
- Toledo-Redondo, Sergio, et al.
(author)
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Energy budget and mechanisms of cold ion heating in asymmetric magnetic reconnection
- 2017
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 122:9, s. 9396-9413
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cold ions (few tens of eV) of ionospheric origin are commonly observed on the magnetospheric side of the Earth's dayside magnetopause. As a result, they can participate in magnetic reconnection, changing locally the reconnection rate and being accelerated and heated. We present four events where cold ion heating was observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, associated with the magnetospheric Hall E field region of magnetic reconnection. For two of the events the cold ion density was small compared to the magnetosheath density, and the cold ions were heated roughly to the same temperature as magnetosheath ions inside the exhaust. On the other hand, for the other two events the cold ion density was comparable to the magnetosheath density and the cold ion heating observed was significantly smaller. Magnetic reconnection converts magnetic energy into particle energy, and ion heating is known to dominate the energy partition. We find that at least 10-25% of the energy spent by reconnection into ion heating went into magnetospheric cold ion heating. The total energy budget for cold ions may be even higher when properly accounting for the heavier species, namely helium and oxygen. Large E field fluctuations are observed in this cold ion heating region, i.e., gradients and waves, that are likely the source of particle energization. Plain Language Summary The magnetic field of Earth creates a natural shield that isolates and protects us from the particles and fields coming from our star, the Sun. This natural shield is called the magnetosphere and is filled by plasma. The particles coming from the Sun form another plasma called the solar wind and are usually deviated around the magnetosphere. However, under certain circumstances these two plasmas can reconnect (magnetic reconnection), and part of the energy and mass of the two plasmas is interchanged. Magnetic reconnection is the driver of storms and substorms inside the magnetosphere. In this work, we investigate what occurs to particles of very low energy (cold ions) of ionospheric origin when they reach the reconnecting boundary of the magnetosphere. It is found that they are energized and take an important part of the energy spent in reconnecting the plasmas. The plasma boundary develops spatial structures and emits waves that are able to heat the cold ions. Once heated, these cold ions irreversibly will escape the Earth's magnetosphere to never come back to Earth.
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| 18. |
- Wang, Shan, et al.
(author)
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Whistler Waves Associated With Electron Beams in Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Regions
- 2022
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 127:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Whistler waves are often observed in magnetopause reconnection associated with electron beams. We analyze seven MMS crossings surrounding the electron diffusion region (EDR) to study the role of electron beams in whistler excitation. Waves have two major types: (a) Narrow-band waves with high ellipticities and (b) broad-band waves that are more electrostatic with significant variations in ellipticities and wave normal angles. While both types of waves are associated with electron beams, the key difference is the anisotropy of the background population, with perpendicular and parallel anisotropies, respectively. The linear instability analysis suggests that the first type of wave is mainly due to the background anisotropy, with the beam contributing additional cyclotron resonance to enhance the wave growth. The second type of broadband waves are excited via Landau resonance, and as seen in one event, the beam anisotropy induces an additional cyclotron mode. The results are supported by particle-in-cell simulations. We infer that the first type occurs downstream of the central EDR, where background electrons experience Betatron acceleration to form the perpendicular anisotropy; the second type occurs in the central EDR of guide field reconnection. A parametric study is conducted with linear instability analysis. A beam anisotropy alone of above similar to 3 likely excites the cyclotron mode waves. Large beam drifts cause Doppler shifts and may lead to left-hand polarizations in the ion frame. Future studies are needed to determine whether the observation covers a broader parameter regime and to understand the competition between whistler and other instabilities.
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