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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 …