Search Publications
Cluster Observes the High-Altitude CUSP Region
Lundin, R.; Sauvaud, J. -A.; Escoubet, C. P. +18 more
This paper gives an overview of Cluster observations in the high-altitude cusp region of the magnetosphere. The low and mid-altitude cusps have been extensively studied previously with a number of low-altitude satellites, but only little is known about the distant part of the magnetospheric cusps. During the spring-time, the trajectory of the Clus…
Energetic Electrons as a Field Line Topology Tracer in the High Latitude Boundary/CUSP Region: Cluster Rapid Observations
Balogh, A.; Daly, P. W.; Reme, H. +7 more
Energetic electrons (e.g., 50 keV) travel along field lines with a high speed of around 20 REs‑1. These swift electrons trace out field lines in the magnetosphere in a rather short time, and therefore can provide nearly instantaneous information about the changes in the field configuration in regions of geospace. The energeti…
Magnetosheath Interaction with the High Latitude Magnetopause
Khotyaintsev, Y.; Amata, E.; Fritz, T. A. +23 more
We present both statistical and case studies of magnetosheath interaction with the high-latitude magnetopause on the basis of Interball-1 and other ISTP spacecraft data. We discuss those data along with recently published results on the topology of cusp-magnetosheath transition and the roles of nonlinear disturbances in mass and energy transfer ac…
Multiple Flux Rope Events at the High-Latitude Magnetopause: Cluster/Rapid Observation on 26 January, 2001
Balogh, A.; Glassmeier, K. -H.; Zong, Q. -G. +14 more
Cluster measurements of the cusp and high latitude magnetopause boundary on 26 January, 2001 confirm that the cusp is a dynamic region full of energetic charged particles and turbulence. An energetic ion layer at high-latitudes beyond and adjacent to the duskside magnetopause exists when the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) has a southward orie…
Cluster Observations of the CUSP: Magnetic Structure and Dynamics
Escoubet, C. P.; Balogh, A.; Dandouras, I. +12 more
This paper reviews Cluster observations of the high altitude and exterior (outer) cusp, and adjacent regions in terms of new multi-spacecraft analysis and the geometry of the surrounding boundary layers. Several crossings are described in terms of the regions sampled, the boundary dynamics and the electric current signatures observed. A companion …
High-Altitude CUSP: The Extremely Dynamic Region in Geospace
Chen, Jiasheng; Fritz, Theodore A.
The high-altitude dayside cusps (both northern and southern) are extremely dynamic regions in geospace. Large diamagnetic cavities with significant fluctuations of the local magnetic field strength have been observed there. These cusp diamagnetic cavities are always there day after day and are as large as 6 RE Associated with these cavi…
Simulation Studies of High-Latitude Magnetospheric Boundary Dynamics
Zhang, H.; Zong, Q. -G.; Liu, Z. X. +5 more
Magnetic reconnection at the high-latitude magnetopause is studied using 2–1/2-dimensional (2‑1/2-D) Hall-MHD simulation. Concentric flow vortices and magnetic islands appear when both Hall effect and sheared flow are considered. Plasma mixing across the magnetopause occurs in the presence of the flow vortices. Reconnected structure generated in t…
Low-Frequency Plasma Waves in the Outer Polar CUSP: A Review of Observations from Prognoz 8, Interball 1, Magion 4, and Cluster
Sauvaud, J. -A.; Santolik, O.; Parrot, M. +7 more
This paper presents a review of the most interesting observations of low-frequency plasma waves together with plasma particles which were made by the Interball 1, Magion 4 and Prognoz 8 satellites in the outer polar cusp. Accelerated plasma particles, hot electron populations and very strong wave activity, particularly at low frequencies, are obse…
Spatial and Temporal Cusp Structures Observed by Multiple Spacecraft and Ground Based Observations
Yeoman, T. K.; Fuselier, S. A.; Reme, H. +6 more
Downward precipitating ions in the cusp regularly exhibit sudden changes in ion energy distributions, forming distinctive structures that can be used to study the temporal/spatial nature of reconnection at the magnetopause. When observed simultaneously with the Polar, FAST, and Interball satellites, such cusp structures revealed remarkably similar…
Coupling the Solar-Wind/IMF to the Ionosphere Through the High Latitude CUSPS
Maynard, Nelson C.
Magnetic merging is a primary means for coupling energy from the solar wind into the magnetosphere–ionosphere system. The location and nature of the process remain as open questions. By correlating measurements from diverse locations and using large-scale MHD models to put the measurements in context, it is possible to constrain our interpretation…