Search Publications
Magnetic reconnection
Ji, Hantao; Yamada, Masaaki; Kulsrud, Russell
The fundamental physics of magnetic reconnection in laboratory and space plasmas is reviewed by discussing results from theory, numerical simulations, observations from space satellites, and recent results from laboratory plasma experiments. After a brief review of the well-known early work, representative recent experimental and theoretical works…
Kappa Distributions: Theory and Applications in Space Plasmas
Pierrard, V.; Lazar, M.
The plasma particle velocity distributions observed in the solar wind generally show enhanced (non-Maxwellian) suprathermal tails, decreasing as a power law of the velocity and well described by the family of Kappa distribution functions. The presence of non-thermal populations at different altitudes in space plasmas suggests a universal mechanism…
Three Dimensional Anisotropic k Spectra of Turbulence at Subproton Scales in the Solar Wind
Belmont, G.; Sahraoui, F.; Rezeau, L. +2 more
We show the first three dimensional (3D) dispersion relations and k spectra of magnetic turbulence in the solar wind at subproton scales. We used the Cluster data with short separations and applied the k-filtering technique to the frequency range where the transition to subproton scales occurs. We show that the cascade is carried by highly oblique…
Research Status Advantages and Disadvantages of China in Space Science Applications and Technology
Wu, J.; Guo, Huadong
Anisotropy of Solar Wind Turbulence between Ion and Electron Scales
Alexandrova, O.; Horbury, T. S.; Chen, C. H. K. +3 more
The anisotropy of turbulence in the fast solar wind, between the ion and electron gyroscales, is directly observed using a multispacecraft analysis technique. Second order structure functions are calculated at different angles to the local magnetic field, for magnetic fluctuations both perpendicular and parallel to the mean field. In both componen…
Average properties of the magnetic reconnection ion diffusion region in the Earth's magnetotail: The 2001-2005 Cluster observations and comparison with simulations
Eastwood, J. P.; Phan, T. D.; Øieroset, M. +1 more
Magnetic reconnection plays a key role in the circulation of plasma through the Earth's magnetosphere. As such, the Earth's magnetotail is an excellent natural laboratory for the study of reconnection and in particular the diffusion region. To address important questions concerning observational occurrence rates and average properties, the Cluster…
A three-dimensional asymmetric magnetopause model
Wang, Y. L.; Zhang, X. X.; Lin, R. L. +2 more
A new three-dimensional asymmetric magnetopause model has been developed for corrected GSM coordinates and parameterized by the solar wind dynamic and magnetic pressures (Pd + Pm), the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz, and the dipole tilt angle. On the basis of the magnetopause crossings from Geotail, IMP 8, …
Magnetic Turbulence in the Geospace Environment
Perri, S.; Alexandrova, O.; Sorriso-Valvo, L. +5 more
Magnetic turbulence is found in most space plasmas, including the Earth's magnetosphere, and the interaction region between the magnetosphere and the solar wind. Recent spacecraft observations of magnetic turbulence in the ion foreshock, in the magnetosheath, in the polar cusp regions, in the magnetotail, and in the high latitude ionosphere are re…
In Situ Observations of a Secondary Magnetic Island in an Ion Diffusion Region and Associated Energetic Electrons
Wang, Shui; Lu, Quanming; Wang, Rongsheng +1 more
Numerical simulations have predicted that an extended current sheet may be unstable to secondary magnetic islands in the vicinity of the X line, and these islands can dramatically influence the reconnection rate. In this Letter, we present the first evidence of such a secondary island near the center of an ion diffusion region, which is consistent…
Cluster observations of EMIC triggered emissions in association with Pc1 waves near Earth's plasmapause
Pickett, J. S.; Dandouras, I.; Santolík, O. +8 more
The Cluster spacecraft were favorably positioned on the nightside near the equatorial plasmapause of Earth at L ∼ 4.3 on 30 March 2002 to observe electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) rising tone emissions in association with Pc1 waves at 1.5 Hz. The EMIC rising tone emissions were found to be left-hand, circularly polarized, dispersive, and propag…