Search Publications
Wave-particle interactions during a dipolarization front event
Goldstein, M. L.; Hwang, K. -J.; F. -Viñas, A. +2 more
We present Cluster observations of wave-particle interactions during an earthward propagating dipolarization front (DF) and associated fast plasma bulk flows detected at the central current sheet in Earth's magnetotail. During this period, flux tubes behind the DF frequently contain more energetic or hotter ions than did the preexisting flux tubes…
On the origin of pressure and magnetic perturbations ahead of dipolarization fronts
Runov, A.; Angelopoulos, V.; Zhou, Xu-Zhi +2 more
Dipolarization fronts (DFs), earthward-propagating structures in the Earth's magnetotail current sheet with sharp enhancements of the northward magnetic field Bz, are typically preceded by minor decreases in Bz. Other characteristic DF precursor signatures, including earthward flows and plasma density/pressure enhancements, h…
Wide longitudinal distribution of interplanetary electrons following the 7 February 2010 solar event: Observations and transport modeling
Dresing, N.; Heber, B.; Dröge, W. +2 more
We analyze 65-105 keV electrons in the 7 February 2010 solar electron event observed simultaneously by STEREO-A, STEREO-B, and ACE. A method to reconstruct the full-electron pitch angle distributions from the four Solar Electron and Proton Telescope sensors on STEREO-A/B and the Solar Electron and Proton Telescope instrument on ACE in the energy r…
Energetic electron bursts in the plasma sheet and their relation with BBFs
Cao, J. B.; Dunlop, M.; Wang, Z. Q. +1 more
We studied energetic electron bursts (EEBs) (40-250 keV) in the plasma sheet (PS) and their relation to bursty bulk flows (BBFs) using the data recorded by Cluster from 2001 to 2009. The EEBs in the PS can be classified into four types. Three types of EEBs are dispersionless, including EEBs accompanied with BBFs (V > 250 km/s) but without dipol…
Terrestrial lion roars and non-Maxwellian distribution
Schwartz, S. J.; Yoon, P. H.; Masood, W. +3 more
Lion roars are low-frequency (∼100 Hz) whistler waves frequently observed in the Earth's magnetosheath. By analyzing both wave and electron data from the Cluster spacecraft, and comparing with linear Vlasov kinetic theory, Masood et al. (2006) investigated the underlying cause of the lion roar generation. However, the analysis based upon the bi-Ma…
Oblique electron fire hose instability: Particle-in-cell simulations
Hellinger, Petr; Trávníček, Pavel M.; Decyk, Victor K. +1 more
Nonlinear properties of the oblique resonant electron fire hose instability are investigated using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations in the Darwin approximation for weak initial growth rates. The weak electron fire hose instability has a self-destructive nonlinear behavior; it destabilizes a nonpropagating branch which only exists for a…
Whistler mode waves at magnetotail dipolarization fronts
André, M.; Vaivads, A.; Khotyaintsev, Yu. V. +3 more
We report the statistics of whistler mode waves observed in relation to dipolarization fronts (DFs) in Earth's magnetotail using data from the four Cluster spacecraft spanning a period of 9 years, 2001-2009. We show that whistler mode waves are common in a vicinity of DFs: between 30 and 60% of all DFs are associated with whistlers. Whistlers are …
The location of magnetic reconnection at Saturn's magnetopause: A comparison with Earth
Frahm, R.; Masters, A.; Fuselier, S. A. +4 more
Data from the Cassini Electron Spectrometer are used to investigate the location of magnetic reconnection at Saturn's magnetopause. Heated, streaming electron distributions in the boundary layer on the magnetosheath side of the magnetopause are evidence of reconnection and an open magnetopause. A model for the location of reconnection is used to c…
EMHD theory and observations of electron solitary waves in magnetotail plasmas
Pu, Zu-Yin; Xiao, Chi-Jie; Shi, Quan-Qi +4 more
A new approach of electron magnetohydrodynamics (EMHD) is developed by including the anisotropy of the electron pressure tensor to take Biermann battery effect into account. Based on the model, the dispersion relation of slow and fast electron magnetosonic modes are derived. A Korteweg-de Vries equation is then obtained from the wave equation to g…
Spatial variation in the plasma sheet composition: Dependence on geomagnetic and solar activity
Kistler, L. M.; Maggiolo, R.
We study the spatial distribution of plasma sheet O+ and H+ ions using data from the COmposition and DIstribution Function (CODIF) instrument on board the Cluster spacecraft from 2001 to 2005. The densities are mapped along magnetic field lines to produce bidimensional density maps at the magnetospheric equatorial plane for v…