Search Publications
Refilling process in the plasmasphere: a 3-D statistical characterization based on Cluster density observations
Lointier, G.; Rauch, J. -L.; Décréau, P. M. E. +4 more
The Cluster mission offers an excellent opportunity to investigate the evolution of the plasma population in a large part of the inner magnetosphere, explored near its orbit's perigee, over a complete solar cycle. The WHISPER sounder, on board each satellite of the mission, is particularly suitable to study the electron density in this region, bet…
Double cusp encounter by Cluster: double cusp or motion of the cusp?
Berchem, J.; Escoubet, C. P.; Pitout, F. +12 more
Modelling plasma entry in the polar cusp has been successful in reproducing ion dispersions observed in the cusp at low and mid-altitudes. The use of a realistic convection pattern, when the IMF-By is large and stable, allowed Wing et al. (2001) to predict double cusp signatures that were subsequently observed by the DMSP spacecraft. In…
A comparison of bow shock models with Cluster observations during low Alfvén Mach number magnetic clouds
Kilpua, E. K. J.; Turc, L.; Fontaine, D. +2 more
Magnetic clouds (MCs) are very geoeffective solar wind structures. Their properties in the interplanetary medium have been extensively studied, yet little is known about their characteristics in the Earth's magnetosheath. The Cluster spacecraft offer the opportunity to observe MCs in the magnetosheath, but before MCs reach the magnetosphere, their…
Coherent amplitude modulation of electron-beam-driven Langmuir waves
Baumgärtel, K.
A linear approach to the phenomenon of irregular amplitude modulation of beam-driven Langmuir waves, developed in a previous paper, is extended to explain periodic modulation as well. It comes about by beating of the fastest growing mode of the instability with beam-aligned plasma oscillations. They are naturally generated in a uniform domain of b…
Mapping of the quasi-periodic oscillations at the flank magnetopause into the ionosphere
Nykyri, K.; Moore, T. W.; Dougal, E. R.
We have estimated the ionospheric location, area, and travel time of quasi-periodic oscillations originating from the magnetospheric flanks. This was accomplished by utilizing global and local MHD models and Tsyganenko semi-empirical magnetic field model on multiple published and four new cases believed to be caused by the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instabi…
Determination of wave vectors using the phase differencing method
Walker, S. N.; Moiseenko, I.
Due to the collisionless nature of space plasmas, plasma waves play an important role in the redistribution of energy between the various particle populations in many regions of geospace. In order to fully comprehend such mechanisms it is necessary to characterise the nature of the waves present. This involves the determination of properties such …
Cluster observation of few-hour-scale evolution of structured plasma in the inner magnetosphere
Lundin, R.; Yamauchi, M.; Dandouras, I. +2 more
Using Cluster Ion Spectrometry (CIS) data from the spacecraft-4 perigee traversals during the 2001-2006 period (nearly 500 traversals after removing those that are highly contaminated by radiation belt particles), we statistically examined the local time distribution of structured trapped ions at sub- to few-keV range as well as inbound-outbound d…
Observational aspects of IMF draping-related magnetosheath accelerations for northward IMF
Farrugia, C. J.; Erkaev, N. V.; Harris, B. +1 more
Acceleration of magnetosheath plasma resulting from the draping of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) around the magnetosphere can give rise to flow speeds that exceed that of the solar wind (VSW) by up to ~60%. Three case event studies out of 34 identified events are described. We then present a statistical study of draping-relate…
Ion cyclotron waves during the Rosetta approach phase: a magnetic estimate of cometary outgassing
Glassmeier, K. -H.; Volwerk, M.; Richter, I. +4 more
A theoretical model for the ion cyclotron wave generation during the approach phase of Rosetta to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is presented. For various activity levels of the comet, the crossing of the observational threshold is determined, whose level is derived from the wave power in the undisturbed solar wind near the comet's location during the …
Remote sensing of a NTC radio source from a Cluster tilted spacecraft pair
Lointier, G.; Rauch, J. -L.; Trotignon, J. -G. +7 more
The Cluster mission operated a "tilt campaign" during the month of May 2008. Two of the four identical Cluster spacecraft were placed at a close distance (~50 km) from each other and the spin axis of one of the spacecraft pair was tilted by an angle of ~46°. This gave the opportunity, for the first time in space, to measure global characteristics …