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Temporal evolution ...
Temporal evolution and electric potential structure of the auroral acceleration region from multispacecraft measurements
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Forsyth, C. (author)
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Fazakerley, A. N. (author)
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Walsh, A. P. (author)
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Watt, C. E. J. (author)
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Garza, K. J. (author)
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Owen, C. J. (author)
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Constantinescu, D. (author)
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Dandouras, I. (author)
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Fornacon, K. -H (author)
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Lucek, E. (author)
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- Marklund, Göran T. (author)
- KTH,Rymd- och plasmafysik
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- Sadeghi, Seyed Soheil (author)
- KTH,Rymd- och plasmafysik
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- Khotyaintsev, Yuri (author)
- Uppsala universitet,Institutet för rymdfysik, Uppsalaavdelningen
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Masson, A. (author)
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Doss, N. (author)
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(creator_code:org_t)
- 2012
- 2012
- English.
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 117:12, s. A12203-
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https://urn.kb.se/re...
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https://doi.org/10.1...
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https://urn.kb.se/re...
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Abstract
Subject headings
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- 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.
Subject headings
- NATURVETENSKAP -- Fysik (hsv//swe)
- NATURAL SCIENCES -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)
Keyword
- Field-Aligned Currents
- Magnetic-Field
- Particle-Acceleration
- High-Altitude
- Electrostatic Shocks
- Current Systems
- Poynting Flux
- Plasma Sheet
- Omega-Bands
- Ion-Beams
Publication and Content Type
- ref (subject category)
- art (subject category)
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- By the author/editor
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Forsyth, C.
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Fazakerley, A. N ...
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Walsh, A. P.
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Watt, C. E. J.
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Garza, K. J.
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Owen, C. J.
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show more...
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Constantinescu, ...
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Dandouras, I.
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Fornacon, K. -H
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Lucek, E.
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Marklund, Göran ...
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Sadeghi, Seyed S ...
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Khotyaintsev, Yu ...
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Masson, A.
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Doss, N.
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show less...
- About the subject
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- NATURAL SCIENCES
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NATURAL SCIENCES
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and Physical Science ...
- Articles in the publication
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Journal of Geoph ...
- By the university
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Royal Institute of Technology
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Uppsala University