Search Publications
Kinetic structure and wave properties associated with sharp dipolarization front observed by Cluster
Deng, X. H.; Huang, S. Y.; Yuan, Z. G. +6 more
Multiple dipolarization fronts (DFs) were observed by Cluster spacecraft in the magnetotail during a substorm. These DFs were kinetic structures, embedded in the bursty plasma flow, and moved earthward (mainly) and dawnward. Intense electric field, parallel and perpendicular currents were detected in the DF layer. These front layers were energy di…
Supermagnetosonic subsolar magnetosheath jets and their effects: from the solar wind to the ionospheric convection
Dandouras, I.; Vaivads, A.; Lucek, E. A. +7 more
It has recently been proposed that ripples inherent to the bow shock during radial interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) may produce local high speed flows in the magnetosheath. These jets can have a dynamic pressure much larger than the dynamic pressure of the solar wind. On 17 March 2007, several jets of this type were observed by the Cluster spac…
Cluster and TC-1 observation of magnetic holes in the plasma sheet
Lucek, E.; Dunlop, M. W.; Carr, C. +10 more
Magnetic holes with relatively small scale sizes, detected by Cluster and TC-1 in the magnetotail plasma sheet, are studied in this paper. It is found that these magnetic holes are spatial structures and they are not magnetic depressions generated by the flapping movement of the magnetotail current sheet. Most of the magnetic holes (93%) were obse…
Spatial distribution of rolled up Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices at Earth's dayside and flank magnetopause
Berchem, J.; Escoubet, C. P.; Eastwood, J. P. +21 more
The Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability (KHI) can drive waves at the magnetopause. These waves can grow to form rolled-up vortices and facilitate transfer of plasma into the magnetosphere. To investigate the persistence and frequency of such waves at the magnetopause we have carried out a survey of all Double Star 1 magnetopause crossings, using a combin…
Super fast plasma streams as drivers of transient and anomalous magnetospheric dynamics
Daly, P. W.; Kozak, L.; Amata, E. +12 more
We present multi spacecraft measurements in the magnetosheath (MSH) and in the solar wind (SW) by Interball, Cluster and Polar, demonstrating that coherent structures with magnetosonic Mach number up to 3 - Supermagnetosonic Plasma Streams (SPS) - generate transient and anomalous boundary dynamics, which may cause substantial displacements of the …
Ion resonance acceleration by dipolarization fronts: analytic theory and spacecraft observation
Petrukovich, A. A.; Artemyev, A. V.; Lutsenko, V. N.
In this paper, we consider the mechanism of ion acceleration by dipolarization fronts in the Earth's magnetotail. The statistics of dipolarization front observations by Interball-tail have been collected from 1995 to 1998 (51 events). We demonstrate that near dipolarization fronts bursts of energetic ions are often observed with an average energy …
Chorus wave-normal statistics in the Earth's radiation belts from ray tracing technique
Krasnoselskikh, V.; Breuillard, H.; Agapitov, O. +3 more
Discrete ELF/VLF (Extremely Low Frequency/Very Low Frequency) chorus emissions are one of the most intense electromagnetic plasma waves observed in radiation belts and in the outer terrestrial magnetosphere. These waves play a crucial role in the dynamics of radiation belts, and are responsible for the loss and the acceleration of energetic electr…
Observations of magnetic flux ropes during magnetic reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail
Eastwood, J. P.; Taylor, M. G. G. T.; Borg, A. L.
We present an investigation of magnetic flux ropes observed by the four Cluster spacecraft during periods of magnetic reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail. Using a list of 21 Cluster encounters with the reconnection process in the period 2001-2006 identified in Borg et al. (2012), we present the distribution and characteristics of the flux rope…
ULF wave activity during the 2003 Halloween superstorm: multipoint observations from CHAMP, Cluster and Geotail missions
Tsinganos, K.; Daglis, I. A.; Haagmans, R. +4 more
We examine data from a topside ionosphere and two magnetospheric missions (CHAMP, Cluster and Geotail) for signatures of ultra low frequency (ULF) waves during the exceptional 2003 Halloween geospace magnetic storm, when Dst reached ~-380 nT. We use a suite of wavelet-based algorithms, which are a subset of a tool that is being developed for the a…
Direct observations of the formation of the solar wind halo from the strahl
Fazakerley, A. N.; Gurgiolo, C.; Goldstein, M. L. +1 more
Observations of a continual erosion of the strahl and build up of the halo with distance from the sun suggests that, at least in part, the halo may be formed as a result of scattering of the strahl. This hypothesis is supported in this paper by observation of intense scattering of strahl electrons, which gives rise to a proto-halo electron populat…