Search Publications
Bursty bulk flows and dipolarization in MHD simulations of magnetotail reconnection
Nakamura, R.; Hesse, M.; Birn, J. +1 more
Using three-dimensional MHD simulations of magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail, we investigate the fate of earthward bursty bulk flows (BBFs). The flow bursts are identified as entropy-depleted magnetic flux tubes (“bubbles”) generated by the severance of a plasmoid via magnetic reconnection. The onset of fast reconnection coincides closely w…
Triggering process of whistler mode chorus emissions in the magnetosphere
Omura, Yoshiharu; Nunn, David
Chorus emissions are triggered from the linear cyclotron instability driven by the temperature anisotropy of energetic electrons (10-100 keV) in the magnetosphere. Chorus emissions grow as an absolute nonlinear instability near the magnetic equator because of the presence of an electromagnetic electron hole in velocity space. The transition proces…
Transport of solar wind fluctuations: A two-component model
Matthaeus, W. H.; Smith, C. W.; Oughton, S. +2 more
We present a new model for the transport of solar wind fluctuations which treats them as two interacting incompressible components: quasi-two-dimensional turbulence and a wave-like piece. Quantities solved for include the energy, cross helicity, and characteristic transverse length scale of each component, plus the proton temperature. The developm…
Excitation of magnetosonic waves in the terrestrial magnetosphere: Particle-in-cell simulations
Gary, S. Peter; Liu, Kaijun; Winske, Dan
Two-dimensional electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations are performed to study the temporal development of an ion Bernstein instability driven by a proton velocity distribution with positive slope in the perpendicular velocity distribution fp(v$\perp$), where $\perp$ denotes directions perpendicular to the background mag…
Kelvin-Helmholtz waves under southward interplanetary magnetic field
Sahraoui, F.; Parks, G. K.; Goldstein, M. L. +3 more
The Kelvin-Helmholtz waves have been observed along the Earth's low-latitude magnetopause and have been suggested to play a certain role in the entry of solar wind plasma into Earth's magnetosphere. In situ observations of the KH waves (KHW) and, in particular, a nonlinear stage of the KH instability, i.e., rolled-up KH vortices (KHVs), have been …
A THEMIS survey of flux ropes and traveling compression regions: Location of the near-Earth reconnection site during solar minimum
Imber, S. M.; Angelopoulos, V.; Slavin, J. A. +1 more
A statistical study of flux ropes and traveling compression regions (TCRs) during the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms second tail season has been performed. A combined total of 135 flux ropes and TCRs in the range GSM X ∼ -14 to -31 RE were identified, many of these occurring in series of two or more …
Cluster observations of multiple dipolarization fronts
Pickett, J. S.; Goldstein, M. L.; Lee, E. +1 more
We present Cluster observations of a series of dipolarization fronts (DF 1 to 6) at the central current sheet in Earth's magnetotail. The velocities of fast earthward flow following behind each DF 1-3 are comparable to the Alfvén velocity, indicating that the flow bursts might have been generated by bursty reconnection that occurred tailward of th…
Embedded current sheets in the Earth’s magnetotail
Malova, H. V.; Petrukovich, A. A.; Zelenyi, L. M. +3 more
In this investigation we introduce and discuss quantitative parameters of a thin current sheet embedded in the background plasma sheet. We use Cluster statistics and empirical models, as well as self-consistent simulations, to understand the formation and development of embedded current sheets, in particular in the course of substorms. Data and th…
Antiparallel and component reconnection at the dayside magnetopause
Fuselier, S. A.; Trattner, K. J.; Petrinec, S. M.
Two types of reconnection occur at the Earth's magnetopause: component and antiparallel reconnection. Recently, an empirical model was developed that purportedly determines under what solar wind conditions one or the other type of reconnection is dominant. This empirical model is tested using observations at the magnetopause from the Cluster space…
Onset of collisionless magnetic reconnection in two-dimensional current sheets and formation of dipolarization fronts
Sitnov, M. I.; Swisdak, M.
The onset of reconnection in 2-D current sheet equilibria that include an X line separating tail-like regions with magnetized electrons is simulated with a full-particle code. The onset is driven by a finite convection electric field applied outside the current sheet. In the case of tearing stable tails with no accumulated magnetic flux, the conve…