Search Publications
Quasi-continuous reconnection accompanied by FTEs during IMF Bz ≈ 0 nT observed by Double Star TC-1 at the dawnside magnetopause
Shen, Chao; Chen, Tao; Phan, Tai +6 more
During a one-hour interval of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz ≈ 0 nT, the equatorial spacecraft Double Star TC-1 encountered the dawn flank magnetopause many times at the magnetic local time (MLT) of about 08:00 and the latitude of about -27°. During each encounter, reconnection jets were observed with their velocities up to more…
Preliminary empirical model of inner boundary of ion plasma sheet
Dandouras, I.; Cao, J. B.; Reme, H. +4 more
The penetration of the plasma sheet into the inner magnetosphere is important to both ring current formation and spacecraft charging at geosynchronous orbit. This paper, using hot ion data recorded by HIA of TC-1/DSP, establishes an empirical model of the inner boundary of ion plasma sheet (IBIPS) on the near equatorial plane. All IBIPS are locate…
Magnetosphere response to the 2005 and 2006 extreme solar events as observed by the Cluster and Double Star spacecraft
Cao, Jinbin; Escoubet, Philippe; Rème, Henri +1 more
The four identical Cluster spacecraft, launched in 2000, orbit the Earth in a tetrahedral configuration and on a highly eccentric polar orbit (4-19.6 RE). This allows the crossing of critical layers that develop as a result of the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetosphere. Since 2004 the Chinese Double Star TC-1 a…
The plasma sheet and boundary layers under northward IMF: A multi-point and multi-instrument perspective
Escoubet, C. P.; Pitout, F.; Zhang, T. L. +23 more
During conditions of northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), the near-tail plasma sheet is known to become denser and cooler, and is described as the cold-dense plasma sheet (CDPS). While its source is likely the solar wind, the prominent penetration mechanisms are less clear. The two main candidates are solar wind direct capture via double…
Modified gradiometer technique applied to Double Star (TC-1)
Zhang, T. L.; Takada, T.; Carr, C. M. +6 more
On TC-1 (Tan Ce 1), the equatorial spacecraft of the Double Star mission, a strong spin-synchronized magnetic interference from the solar panels was observed. In-flight correction techniques for spinning spacecraft that are based on minimizing spin tones in the spin-aligned component and in the magnitude of the ambient magnetic field are therefore…
Study of waves in the magnetotail region with cluster and DSP
Balogh, A.; Zhang, T. L.; Klecker, B. +6 more
The study of the neutral sheet is of fundamental importance in understanding the dynamics of the Earth’s magnetosphere. From the earliest observation of the magnetotail, it has been found that the neutral sheet frequently appears to be in motion due to changing solar wind conditions and geomagnetic activity. Multiple crossings of the neutral sheet…
Modeling PSBL high speed ion beams observed by Cluster and Double Star
Bosqued, Jean-Michel; El-Alaoui, Mostafa; Walker, Raymond J. +3 more
On October 8, 2004, the Cluster and Double Star spacecraft crossed the near-Earth (12 19 RE) magnetotail neutral sheet during the recovery phase of a small, isolated substorm. Although they were separated in distance by ∼7 RE and in time by ∼30 min, both Cluster and Double Star observed steady, but highly structured Earthward…
Plasma sheet oscillations and their relation to substorm development: Cluster and double star TC1 case study
Zhang, T. L.; Klecker, B.; Nakamura, R. +11 more
We examined two consecutive plasma sheet oscillation and dipolarization events observed by Cluster in the magnetotail, which are associated with a pseudo-breakup and a small substorm monitored by the IMAGE spacecraft. Energy input from the solar wind and an associated enhancement of the cross-tail current lead to current sheet thinning and plasma …
The Double Star magnetic field investigation: Overview of instrument performance and initial results
Balogh, A.; Zhang, T. L.; Nakamura, R. +15 more
Double Star is a Chinese National Space Administration mission which augments the European Space Agency's Cluster mission by launching an additional two spacecraft; one into an equatorial orbit and one into a polar orbit. These orbits are carefully chosen to complement Cluster by maximising the opportunities for useful conjunctions when Double Sta…