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- Yao, S. T., et al.
(author)
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Propagating and Dynamic Properties of Magnetic Dips in the Dayside Magnetosheath : MMS Observations
- 2020
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 125:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The magnetosheath is inherently complex and rich, exhibiting various kinds of structures and perturbations. It is important to understand how these structures propagate and evolve and how they relate to the perturbations. Here we investigate a kind of magnetosheath structure known as a magnetic dip (MD). As far as we are aware, there have been no previous studies concerning the evolution (contracting or expanding) of these types of structures, and their propagation properties cannot be unambiguously determined. In this study, using Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) high-temporal resolution data and multispacecraft analysis methods, we obtain the propagation and dynamic features of a set of MDs. Four different types of MDs are identified: "frozen-in," "expanding," "contracting," and "stable-propagating." Significantly, a stable-propagation event is observed with a sunward propagation component. This indicates that the source of the structure in this case is closely associated with the magnetopause, which provides strong support to the contention in earlier research. We further reveal the mechanism leading to the MD contraction or expansion. The motion of the MDs boundary is found closely related with the dynamic pressure. The scale of the contracting and expanding events are typically similar to 5-20 rho(i) (ion gyroradius), significantly smaller than that of frozen-in events (similar to 40 rho(i)). The observations could relate large-scale (more than several tens of rho(i)) and kinetic-scale (less than rho(i)) MDs, by revealing an evolution that spans these different scales, and help us better understand the variation and dynamics of magnetosheath structures and plasmas.
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- Xiao, Y.C., et al.
(author)
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Statistical properties of the distribution and generation of kinetic-scale flux ropes in the terrestrial dayside magnetosheath
- 2023
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 50:23
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The generation of kinetic-scale flux ropes (KSFRs) is closely related to magnetic reconnection. Both flux ropes and reconnection sites are detected in the magnetosheath and can impact the dynamics upstream of the magnetopause. In this study, using the Magnetospheric Multiscale satellite, 12,623 KSFRs with a scale <20 RCi are statistically studied in the Earth's dayside magnetosheath. It is found that they are mostly generated near the bow shock (BS), and propagate downstream in the magnetosheath. Their quantity significantly increases as the scale decreases, consistent with a flux rope coalescence model. Moreover, the solar wind parameters can control the occurrence rate of KSFRs. They are more easily generated at high Mach number, large proton density, and weak magnetic field strength of the solar wind, similar to the conditions that favor BS reconnection. Our study shows a close connection between KSFR generation and BS reconnection.
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| 4. |
- Yao, S.T., et al.
(author)
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Ion-Vortex Magnetic Hole With Reversed Field Direction in Earth's Magnetosheath
- 2023
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 128:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plasma vortices are ubiquitous in space and play important roles in the transmission of energy and mass at various scales. For small-scale plasma vortices on the order of ion gyroradius, however, their properties and characteristics remain unclear. Here, we provide unique findings of an ion-scale vortex observed in the Earth's magnetosheath. The vortex is generated by the ion diamagnetic drift associated with an isolated magnetic hole (MH). The magnetic field in the axial direction is reversed in the vortex center, which is consistent with ring-shaped currents carried by the ions. The field strength becomes very weak (<1 nT) at the field reversal region, although the ion distributions vary rather continuously across the entire structure. A kinetic equilibrium model is then applied to reconstruct the above features. These findings can help us understand the plasma vortex and MH from magnetohydrodynamics to kinetic scales.
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- Yao, S. T., et al.
(author)
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Low-frequency Whistler Waves Modulate Electrons and Generate Higher-frequency Whistler Waves in the Solar Wind
- 2021
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 923:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The role of whistler-mode waves in the solar wind and the relationship between their electromagnetic fields and charged particles is a fundamental question in space physics. Using high-temporal-resolution electromagnetic field and plasma data from the Magnetospheric MultiScale spacecraft, we report observations of low-frequency whistler waves and associated electromagnetic fields and particle behavior in the Earth's foreshock. The frequency of these whistler waves is close to half the lower-hybrid frequency (similar to 2 Hz), with their wavelength close to the ion gyroradius. The electron bulk flows are strongly modulated by these waves, with a modulation amplitude comparable to the solar wind velocity. At such a spatial scale, the electron flows are forcibly separated from the ion flows by the waves, resulting in strong electric currents and anisotropic ion distributions. Furthermore, we find that the low-frequency whistler wave propagates obliquely to the background magnetic field ( B (0)), and results in spatially periodic magnetic gradients in the direction parallel to B (0). Under such conditions, large pitch-angle electrons are trapped in wave magnetic valleys by the magnetic mirror force, and may provide free perpendicular electron energy to excite higher-frequency whistler waves. This study offers important clues and new insights into wave-particle interactions, wave generation, and microscale energy conversion processes in the solar wind.
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