Role of Oxygen Ions in the Structure of the Current Sheet of the Near-Earth Magnetotail
Zelenyi, L. M.; Malova, Kh. V.; Mingalev, I. V.; Mingalev, O. V.; Setsko, P. V.; Mel'nik, M. N.; Artem'ev, A. V.; Merzlyi, A. M.
Russia
Abstract
A numerical model is used to study the possibility of a thin current sheet formation in the near-Earth magnetotail in the growth phase of a substorm for a wide range of parameters of longitudinal countermoving ion flows that create current sheet. The simulation results make it possible to conclude that the current sheet can be formed by oxygen ion flows of ionospheric origin in cases where the proton fluxes can be neglected or they are rather weak. Such conditions are realized in the Earth's magnetosphere during periods of increased geomagnetic activity. In addition, the influence of electron pressure anisotropy on the steady-state configuration of the considered current sheet is investigated.