Search Publications
Field-Aligned Electrons in Polar Region Observed by Cluster on 30 September 2001
Shi, Jian-Kui; Cheng, Zheng-Wei; Zhang, Zi-Ying +1 more
The physical process in the Earth's polar region is very complex and still needs to be further studied. Using the data from Cluster satellite measurement, an analysis on field-aligned electrons in the mid-latitude cusp on 30 September 2001 has been performed. The satellite observed a down-flowing electron event in the low-latitude boundary and a s…
Anomalous Resistivity Associated with Secondary Islands in the Reconnection Region
Zhou, Meng; Deng, Xiao-Hua; Su, Wei +1 more
We calculate the anomalous resistivity (AR) due to electrostatic waves, including possibly the lower hybrid wave and electron beam mode, around the secondary islands in the reconnection region observed by the Cluster spacecraft. Our main findings are: AR is important on the reconnection separatrix layer but heavily suppressed at the central curren…
Observation of a Sharp Negative Dipolarization Front in the Reconnection Outflow Region
Zhou, Meng; Deng, Xiao-Hua; Pang, Ye +1 more
A sharp dipolarization front (DF) has recently been detected in the Earth's magnetotail and is associated with complex kinetic effects. We present one event where a tailward propagating negative DF (with Bz decreasing sharply to negative value) was observed near a reconnection region. The thickness of the negative DF is comparable with …
Field-Aligned Currents at the PSBL on 17 August 2001 Storm: Relationships with solar Wind Conditions
Liu, Zhen-Xing; Shi, Jian-Kui; Cheng, Zheng-Wei +2 more
Using magnetic field and plasma data acquired with Cluster spacecrafts, we investigate the relationship between the field-aligned currents (FACs) at the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL) and solar wind dynamic pressure, as well as the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By on 17 August 2001 storm. Our studies reveal that FAC density at…
Clarification on Polarity of Bipolar Electric Field Solitary Structures in Space Plasmas with Satellite Observation
Liu, Zhen-Xing; Shi, Jian-Kui; Qureshi, M. N. S. +1 more
The bipolar electric field solitary (EFS) structures observed frequently in space plasmas by satellites have two different polarities, first positive electric field peak then negative (i.e., positive/negative) and first negative then positive peak (i.e., negative/positive). We provide the physical explanation on the polarity of observed bipolar EF…
GEOPHYSICS, ASTRONOMY, AND ASTROPHYSICS: Cluster Observation of Electrostatic Solitary Waves around Magnetic Null Point in Thin Current Sheet
Fu, Song; Zhou, Meng; Wang, Jing-Fang +5 more
Electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) are observed in the vicinity of the magnetic null of the widely studied magnetic reconnection taking place at the near-earth tail when current sheet becomes dramatic thinning during substorm time on 1 October 2001. We use the Imada method for the 2-D reconnection model and study the characteristics of ESWs near …
GEOPHYSICS, ASTRONOMY, AND ASTROPHYSICS: Is the Near-Earth Current Sheet Prior to Reconnection Unstable to Tearing Mode?
Cao, Jin-Bin; Fu, Hui-Shan; Wei, Xin-Hua +1 more
The tearing mode instability plays a key role in the triggering process of reconnection. The triggering collisionless tearing mode instability has been theoretically and numerically analyzed by many researchers. However, due to the difficulty in obtaining the observational wave number, it is still unknown whether the tearing mode instability can b…
GEOPHYSICS, ASTRONOMY, AND ASTROPHYSICS: ULF Waves Associated with Solar Wind Deceleration in the Earth's Foreshock
Dandouras, I.; Lucek, E.; Rème, H. +3 more
Characteristics of ULF waves associated with the solar wind deceleration in the Earth's foreshock on 6-7 April 2003 is studied using the wave telescope technique. In the satellite frame, the ULF waves are the left-handed polarized and quasi anti-parallel propagating mode, with a power peak at about 18.63 mHz. The wave vector in the GSE coordinates…
Properties of Field Aligned Current in Plasma Sheet Boundary Layers in Magnetotail: Cluster Observation
Dunlop, M.; Liu, Zhen-Xing; Shi, Jian-Kui +2 more
Field aligned current (FAC) distribution in the plasma sheet boundary layers (PSBLs) in the magnetotail is studied statistically by analysing magnetic field data from the Cluster 4-point measurements. The results show that the FAC distribution on the dusk side is not the same as that on the dawn side in the magnetotail. On the each side earthward …
GEOPHYSICS, ASTRONOMY, AND ASTROPHYSICS: Interhemispheric Comparison of Dipole Tilt Angle Effects on Latitude of Mid-Altitude Cusp
Liu, Zhen-Xing; Shi, Jian-Kui; Zhang, Tie-Long +1 more
A statistical study of interhemispheric comparison of dipole tilt angle effect on the latitude of the mid-altitude cusp is preformed by a data set of the Cluster cusp crossings over a 5-year period. The result shows that the dipole tilt angle has a clear control of the cusp latitudinal location. When the dipole tilts sunwards, the cusp is shifted …