Search Publications
Current sheets in planetary magnetospheres
Delcourt, Dominique; Zelenyi, Lev; Malova, Helmi +2 more
In this article we aim to highlight the problems related to the structure and stability of the comparatively thin current sheets that were relatively recently discovered by space missions in the magnetospheres of the Earth and planets, as well as in the solar wind. These magnetoplasma structures are universal in collisionless cosmic plasmas and ca…
Correlated observations of intensified whistler waves and electron acceleration around the geostationary orbit
Zong, Qiugang; Su, Zhenpeng; Xiao, Fuliang +3 more
We report correlated observations of enhanced whistler waves and energetic electron acceleration collected by multiple satellites specifically near the geostationary orbit during the 7-10 November 2004 superstorms, together with multi-site observations of ULF wave power measured on the ground. Energetic (>0.6 MeV) electron fluxes are found to i…
BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Electron acceleration by whistler-mode waves around the magnetic null during 3D reconnection
Zong, Qiugang; He, Jiansen; Su, Zhenpeng +5 more
The magnetic field configuration around a magnetic null pair and its associated electron behavior during 3D magnetic reconnection have recently been reported from in situ observations. Electrons are suggested to be temporarily trapped in the central reconnection region as indicated by an electron density peak observed near the magnetic null (He J-…
Current filaments in turbulent magnetized plasmas
Sundkvist, D.; Martines, E.; Vianello, N. +18 more
Direct measurements of current density perturbations associated with non-linear phenomena in magnetized plasmas can be carried out using in situ magnetic measurements. In this paper we report such measurements for three different kinds of phenomena. Current density fluctuations in the edge density gradient region of a fusion plasma confined in rev…
Magnetic reconnection in space plasma
Retinò, Alessandro; Vaivads, Andris; André, Mats
The terrestrial magnetosphere is a natural laboratory where many important plasma processes can be studied in detail by using high-quality spacecraft measurements of electromagnetic fields and particle distribution functions over a broad range of spatial and temporal scales. One such important process is magnetic reconnection. We discuss recent re…
Simulation of zonal flow excitation by drift mode turbulence: applications to tokamaks and the magnetopause
Davies, J. A.; Vaivads, A.; Dunlop, M. W. +5 more
Recently, we investigated the interaction between broadband drift mode turbulence and zonal flows near the edge of a region of magnetized plasma (Trines et al 2005 Phys. Rev. Lett. 94 165002). Our simulation results showed the development of a zonal flow through the modulational instability of the drift wave distribution, as well as the existence …
Magnetic turbulence in space plasmas: in and around the Earth's magnetosphere
Zimbardo, Gaetano
In collisionless space plasmas most phenomena are governed by wave particle interaction and by the interaction with the large scale fields. Low frequency magnetic turbulence in the solar wind is relatively well characterized and understood. The situation is more complicated for magnetic turbulence in and around the Earth's magnetosphere, where the…