Search Publications
Dipolarization fronts as a consequence of transient reconnection: In situ evidence
André, M.; Hamrin, M.; Sitnov, M. I. +10 more
Dipolarization fronts (DFs) are frequently detected in the Earth's magnetotail from XGSM = -30 RE to XGSM = -7 RE. How these DFs are formed is still poorly understood. Three possible mechanisms have been suggested in previous simulations: (1) jet braking, (2) transient reconnection, and (3) spontaneous f…
Spontaneous formation of dipolarization fronts and reconnection onset in the magnetotail
Merkin, V. G.; Sitnov, M. I.; Moore, T. E. +2 more
We present full-particle simulations of 2-D magnetotail current sheet equilibria with open boundaries and zero driving. The simulations show that spontaneous formation of dipolarization fronts and subsequent formation of magnetic islands are possible in equilibria with an accumulation of magnetic flux at the tailward end of a sufficiently thin cur…
Mapping HF waves in the reconnection diffusion region
Pickett, J. S.; André, M.; Vaivads, A. +2 more
We study in detail high-frequency (HF) plasma waves between the electron cyclotron and plasma frequencies within a reconnection diffusion region (DR) encountered by Cluster in the magnetotail using continuous electric field waveforms. We identify three wave types, all observed within the separatrix regions: Langmuir waves (LW), electrostatic solit…
Field-aligned currents associated with dipolarization fronts
Zong, Q. -G.; Parks, G. K.; Huang, S. Y. +7 more
Current densities associated with dipolarization fronts (DFs) have been calculated in the geomagnetic tail using the curlometer technique applied to high-resolution magnetic field B→ data obtained by the four Cluster spacecraft. We then use the relation <mfenced separators="" open="<" close=">">b→</mfenced>·<mfenced separators…
Storm-induced energization of radiation belt electrons: Effect of wave obliquity
Zelenyi, L. M.; Krasnoselskikh, V.; Artemyev, A. V. +2 more
New Cluster statistics allow us to determine for the first time the variations of both the obliquity and intensity of lower-band chorus waves as functions of latitude and geomagnetic activity near L∼5. The portion of wave power in very oblique waves decreases during highly disturbed periods, consistent with increased Landau damping by inward-penet…
Observation of multiple sub-cavities adjacent to single separatrix
Daly, P. W.; Zhang, Tielong; Kronberg, E. A. +7 more
investigate a direct south-north crossing of a reconnection ion diffusion region in the magnetotail. During this crossing, multiple electron density dips with a further density decrease within the cavity, called sub-cavities, adjacent to the northern separatrix are observed. The correlation between electron density sub-cavities and strong electric…
IMF dependence of the azimuthal direction of earthward magnetotail fast flows
Nilsson, H.; Hamrin, M.; Norqvist, P. +2 more
Cluster magnetotail data together with ACE solar wind data from 2001 to 2009 are used to investigate the dependence of the azimuthal flow direction of earthward magnetotail fast flows on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We find an indication that fast flows have favored azimuthal directions that have dependence on the IMF. Our results sugg…
Influences of the interplanetary magnetic field clock angle and cone angle on the field-aligned currents in the magnetotail
Dunlop, M.; Liu, Z. X.; Shi, J. K. +1 more
The influences of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) cone angle θ and clock angle ϕ on the field-aligned currents (FACs) at the plasma sheet boundary layers (PSBLs) have been investigated using Cluster Data. The FAC occurrence increases monotonically with IMF cone angle and has two peaks at -90° and +110° clock angle, respectively. The peak a…
Correction to "Pc2 EMIC waves generated high off the equator in the dayside outer magnetosphere"
Dandouras, I.; Kistler, L. M.; Zhang, J. -C. +3 more