三维试验粒子轨道法在磁层粒子全球输运中的应用

根据磁层粒子动力学理论, 通过偶极磁场模型验证利用三维试验粒子轨道方法模拟近地球区(r < 8R_e)带电粒子运动特征的可靠性. 在此基础上, 以太阳风和磁层相互作用的全球MHD模拟结果为背景, 利用三维试验粒子轨道方法, 对非磁暴期间南向行星际磁场背景下太阳风离子注入磁层的情形进行数值模拟, 并对北向行星际磁场背景下太阳风离子注入极尖区以及内磁层的几种不同情形进行了单粒子模拟. 模拟结果反映了南向和北向行星际磁场离子向磁层的几种典型输入过程, 揭示出行星际磁场南向时太阳风粒子在磁层内密度分布的晨昏不对称性以及其在磁鞘和磁层内的大致分布, 并得出统计规律. 模拟结果与理论预测和观测结论相一致, 且通过数值模拟发现, 行星际磁场北向时靠近极尖区附近形成的非典型磁镜结构对于能量粒子经由极尖区注入环电流区域过程有重要的影响和作用.      

太阳风向磁层输入电磁能量研究

利用全球磁流体力学（MHD）模拟结果,通过确立包含磁层顶的太阳风流线内边界来识别三维磁层顶位形,并以极尖区位置作为磁层顶日侧与夜侧的分界线,在此基础上定量研究了不同条件下穿过磁层顶向磁层内输入的电磁能量. 研究发现,磁层顶的能量传输与太阳风条件密切相关,磁重联是控制电磁能量传输的重要机制. 结果表明,当IMF（行星际磁场）南向时,极尖区后方的磁尾附近存在电磁能输入最大值,当IMF北向时,电磁能输入最大值发生在极尖区附近;南向IMF条件下,在IMF强度增大或太阳风密度增大时,磁层顶电磁能传输的电磁能量比北向IMF条件时增加更显著. 太阳风通过调节磁层顶面积间接影响到磁层顶能量传输大小. 研究还发现,北向IMF与南向IMF条件下穿过磁层顶的电磁能输入的比值范围约为10%～30%,此比值一定程度上反映了北、南方向IMF与地磁场磁重联效率的比值.      

冷而密的等离子体片及其对磁尾等离子体片分布特性的影响

地球磁尾等离子体片在太阳风-磁层耦合过程中起着重要的作用，其中冷而密的等离子体片是地磁活动平静期太阳风等离子体进入磁层的重要区域.以往的研究通常没有利用局地探测数据针对冷而密的等离子体片发生率在地心太阳磁层坐标系（GSM）中xy平面分布的统计分析.本文利用GEOTAIL卫星1996-2016年的局地测量数据，给出了等离子体片密度、温度及冷而密的等离子体片发生率的二维分布.与温度具有晨昏对称分布不同，等离子体片数密度呈现明显的晨昏不对称性，并且冷而密的等离子体片发生率在晨侧较高.      

亚暴起始位置和膨胀相持续时间对行星际磁场Bz分量的响应

磁层亚暴是太阳风–磁层–电离层耦合过程中的重要爆发性事件,其特性受太阳风参数的影响很大。本文利用对IMAGE卫星在2000 － 2005年观测到的4193个亚暴起始事件,统计研究了在不同的行星际磁场（IMF）B_z 条件下亚暴起始位置和膨胀相持续时间。结果表明,南向IMF发生的亚暴比北向IMF下发生的亚暴要多。南向IMF条件下亚暴AE指数最大值的平均值基本上>600 nT,并有随南向IMF持续时间增大而增大的趋势。北向IMF条件下亚暴AE指数最大值的平均值基本上<500 nT,并有随北向IMF持续时间增大而减小的趋势。亚暴的起始磁纬度基本上位于65° － 70°之间。当南向IMF或北向IMF的持续时间增大,超过80 min时,北半球的亚暴起始磁纬度会降低。亚暴起始磁地方时大部分位于22:15 － 23:15 MLT之间。但整体分布比较分散,显示不出特别清晰的随IMF B_z持续时间变化的趋势。相比于南向的IMF,北向IMF期间发生亚暴的平均膨胀相持续时间增大了将近10 min,表明南向IMF期间,亚暴强度虽然较大,但其膨胀相持续时间较短,亚暴能量释放和耗散的速度更快。      

高速太阳风条件下日侧磁层顶磁通量传输事件的全球磁流体力学模拟结果

利用全球磁流体力学模拟,研究了高速太阳风条件下日侧磁层顶的磁通量传输事件（FTE）发生率的空间分布.从模拟结果中得到了FTE信号,并且这些FTE信号的特征与观测结果基本一致.磁层顶上的10个取样点共观测到39个FTE信号.统计分析表明,越靠近翼侧则观测到的FTE信号越少.这一现象可能是磁鞘中太阳风速度分布差异导致的.      

磁鞘等离子体密度统计建模

利用理想磁流体LFM模型的模拟数据,基于非参数统计方法对2004年11月14日03:00UT-07:00UT磁暴恢复相期间磁鞘等离子体平均密度进行建模.分析磁鞘等离子体平均密度与上游太阳风参数、行星际磁场参数及地磁扰动参数的统计关系,建立基于数据降维的经验模型.结果表明,电离层扰动强度因子、太阳风-磁层耦合强度因子和日地空间因果链耦合强度因子是影响磁鞘等离子体平均密度的三个主要方面.磁暴恢复相期间电离层上行离子是磁层环电流和磁尾等离子体的重要离子来源.建模分析过程表明,利用经验模型对空间物理过程开展建模,数据的严重多重共线性通常会导致模型的精度较差.而利用SIR和LPR建立的磁鞘等离子体平均密度随相关参数变化的经验模型可以有效解决该问题,具有较好的预测精度,统计特征显著.      

极端太阳风条件下的磁层顶位形

基于极端太阳风条件下的三维MHD数值模拟数据, 构建了一种极端太阳风条件下的三维非对称磁层顶位形模型. 所提出的模型考虑了行星际南向磁场(IMF) B_z日下点距离侵蚀的饱和效应, 太阳风动压B_d对磁层顶张角影响的饱和效应, 赤道面、昼夜子午面磁层顶的不对称性以及极尖区的内凹结构和内凹中心的移动, 并利用Levenberg-Marquart多参量非线性拟合方法拟合了模型参数. 数值模拟研究表明, 在极端太阳风条件下, 随B_d增大, 磁层顶日下点距离减小, 磁层顶磁尾张角几乎不变; 随南向(IMF)B_z增大, 磁层顶日下点距离略有减小, 磁层顶磁尾张角减小, 极尖区内凹中心向低纬移动. 通过对2010年8月1日太阳风暴事件验证发现, 本文所建立的模型能够描述极端太阳风条件下的三维磁层顶位形.      

行星际激波对地球磁层的压缩效应分析

2004 年11月9日WIND飞船探测到一个典型的行星际激波. 激波前行星际磁场为持续约50 min的弱南向磁场, 越过激波面, 磁场发生北向偏转且太阳风动压脉冲增强. 在此强动压脉冲增强结构作用下, 磁层被压缩至一个很小的区域. 激波作用于磁层时引起地球同步轨道 各区域高能粒子通量的响应, 但是不同磁地方时的高能粒子通量的响应不同, 表现出双模式扰动, 即在晨昏两侧各能段的电子和质子通量显著增强, 在子夜侧发生类似于亚暴的无色散粒子注入现象. 扰动从向阳面传输到背阳面, 向阳面粒子通量最先增强, 随后背阳面靠近晨昏两侧, 粒子通量开始增强, 最后子夜侧粒子通量表现出无色散高能粒子注入的特点. 另外, 在靠近正午侧, 质子通量先于电子通量发生响应, 在子夜侧电子通量则先于质子通量发生响应. 利用位于向阳面正午两侧的GOES-10 和 GOES-12卫星观测数据发现, 激波作用于磁层时靠近晨侧的磁场变化表现出简单压缩效应, 而靠近昏侧的磁场变化则显然不同, Bx分量减弱, Bz分量几乎减为零, 而By分量则显著增强. 此外, 位于近地磁尾低纬尾瓣区的TC-1卫星观测到激波触发的尾瓣SI现象.      

行星际激波导致的磁尾等离子片中ULF波动事件

磁层中的超低频（ULF）波动在太阳风和磁层之间的能量输运过程中具有重要作用.ULF波动主要发生在内磁层，且内磁层中ULF波动影响粒子的加速及沉降，而在夜侧磁层尤其是磁尾等离子片中观测到的ULF波动比较少.基于中国自主磁层探测卫星TC-1的观测数据，发现了两例行星际激波导致的磁尾中心等离子片中ULF波动事件，并发现这两例ULF事例都包含很强的环向模驻波分量，与以往THEMIS卫星报道的同类事件观测特征相符.根据ULF波的观测特征，分析了这两例ULF波动的可能触发机制.研究结果有助于深入理解磁层对行星际激波的全球响应.      

远磁尾磁层顶位形的偏转

利用WIND和ARTEMIS卫星观测数据，分析远磁尾磁层顶对行星际和太阳风变化的响应，尤其是偏离日地连线的太阳风速度改变对远磁尾磁层顶的影响.研究发现在2011年9月13日的事件中，P2卫星观测到高速且高密度的磁鞘流.利用最小变量法进行分析发现，磁层顶沿着偏离日地连线的太阳风速度方向发生偏转.根据相似三角形定理，推断出本次事件中磁层顶在y方向和z方向上的偏转幅度分别达到10R_e和6R_e.P1和P2卫星的相对位置也证实了这一观点.因此，偏离日地连线的太阳风速度对远磁尾磁层顶的位形影响很大.研究结果可为建立包含太阳风速度v_y和v_z效应的磁层顶模型提供观测证据.      

The plasma sheet and boundary layers under northward IMF: A multi-point and multi-instrument perspective

During conditions of northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), the near-tail plasma sheet is known to become denser and cooler, and is described as the cold-dense plasma sheet (CDPS). While its source is likely the solar wind, the prominent penetration mechanisms are less clear. The two main candidates are solar wind direct capture via double high-latitude reconnection on the dayside and Kelvin–Helmholtz/diffusive processes at the flank magnetopause. This paper presents a case study on the formation of the CDPS utilizing a wide variety of space- and ground-based observations, but primarily from the Double Star and Polar spacecraft on December 5th, 2004. The pertinent observations can be summarized as follows: TC-1 observes quasi-periodic (∼2 min period) cold-dense boundary layer (compared to a hot-tenuous plasma sheet) signatures interspersed with magnetosheath plasma at the dusk flank magnetopause near the dawn-dusk terminator. Analysis of this region suggests the boundary to be Kelvin–Helmholtz unstable and that plasma transport is ongoing across the boundary. At the same time, IMAGE spacecraft and ground based SuperDARN measurements provide evidence of high-latitude reconnection in both hemispheres. The Polar spacecraft, located in the southern hemisphere afternoon sector, sunward of TC-1, observes a persistent boundary layer with no obvious signature of boundary waves. The plasma is of a similar appearance to that observed by TC-1 inside the boundary layer further down the dusk flank, and by TC-2 in the near-Earth magnetotail. We present comparisons of electron phase space distributions between the spacecraft. Although the dayside boundary layer at Polar is most likely formed via double high-altitude reconnection, and is somewhat comparable to the flank boundary layer at Double Star, some differences argue in favour of additional transport that augment solar wind plasma entry into the tail regions.     

The response of the Hermean magnetosphere to the interplanetary magnetic field

The interaction between the solar wind and Mercury is anticipated to be unique because of Mercury’s relatively weak intrinsic magnetic field and tenuous neutral exosphere. In this paper the role of the IMF in determining the structure of the Hermean magnetosphere is studied using a new self-consistent three-dimensional quasi-neutral hybrid model. A comparison between a pure northward and southward IMF shows that the general morphology of the magnetic field, the position and shape of the bow shock and the magnetopause as well as the density and velocity of the solar wind in the magnetosheath and in the magnetosphere are quite similar in these two IMF situations. A Parker spiral IMF case, instead, produces a magnetosphere with a substantial north–south asymmetric plasma and magnetic field configuration. In general, this study illustrates quantitatively the role of IMF when the solar wind interacts with a weakly magnetised planetary body.     

行星际磁场北向分量触发磁层扰动的可能性

本文用典型事件和统计分析论证了行星际磁场北向分量触发地磁扰动的可能性.给出了行星际电场E_y分量对磁层大尺度对流电场E_M的耦合系数.从耦合方程出发讨论了磁层对太阳风作用的响应,证明磁层不是起半波整流器作用,从而表明经典的重联理论应有所修改.      

The Earth’s magnetosphere response to interplanetary medium conditions on January 21–22, 2005 and on December 14–15, 2006

The Earth’s magnetosphere response to interplanetary medium conditions on January 21–22, 2005 and on December 14–15, 2006 has been studied. The analysis of solar wind parameters measured by ACE spacecraft, of geomagnetic indices variations, of geomagnetic field measured by GOES 11, 12 satellites, and of energetic particle fluxes measured by POES 15, 16, 17 satellites was performed together with magnetospheric modeling based in terms of A2000 paraboloid model. We found the similar dynamics of three particle populations (trapped, quasi-trapped, and precipitating) during storms of different intensities developed under different external conditions: the maximal values of particle fluxes and the latitudinal positions of the isotropic boundaries were approximately the same. The main sources caused RC build-up have been determined for both magnetic storms. Global magnetospheric convection controlled by IMF and substorm activity driven magnetic storm on December 14–15, 2006. Extreme solar wind pressure pulse was mainly responsible for RC particle injection and unusual January 21, 2005 magnetic storm development under northward IMF during the main phase.     

On the association of quiet-time Pi2 pulsations with IMF variations

The association of quiet-time Pi2 pulsations with the variations of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has been examined by using three reported events, occurring during extremely quiet intervals, of which the first was on 10 March 1997, the second 27 December 1997, and the third 11 May 1999. For the first event, the onset time of ground Pi2s maps to the IMF structure bearing a variation cycle of north-to-south and north again as seen by Wind in the upstream region and Geotail in the magnetosheath. Likewise, the second and the third events have respectively, four and three recurrent turnings propagating to the Earth sensed by multiple satellites. The comparison of geomagnetic perturbations, auroral brightenings, and energetic particle data in the magnetotail with the IMF observations shows successive substorm-like activations accompanied by ground Pi2 onsets. For a clear variation cycle, the first Pi2 burst appears 36 ± 8 min after southward turning of the IMF and the second one follows14 ± 4 min after a northward turning. Moreover, ground Pi2 onsets recur under low IMF clock angle conditions. These observational results can be interpreted with the prevailing models of externally triggered substorm. But the solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere under quiet conditions proceeds in a less efficient way than under substorm time conditions. Consequently, we suggest that recurrent quiet-time Pi2s can be associated with IMF variations and their cause can be the same as those for substorm times.     

Statistical properties of the IMF clock angle in the solar wind with northward and southward interplanetary magnetic field based on ACE observation from 1998 to 2009: Dependence on the temporal scale of the solar wind

Utilizing ACE satellite observations from 1998 to 2009, we performed the elaborate study on the properties of the clock angle θ_CA (arctan(By/Bz) (?90° to 90°) of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the solar wind at 1?AU. The solar wind with northward IMF (NW-IMF) and southward IMF (SW-IMF) are analyzed, independently. Statistical analysis shows that the solar wind with SW-IMF and NW-IMF has similar properties in general, including their durations, the IMF Bz and By components, and the IMF θ_CA. Then, the solar wind with NW-IMF (SW-IMF) is classified into five different temporal scales according to the duration of the NW-IMF (SW-IMF), i.e., very-short wind of 10–30?min, short-scale wind of 0.5–1?h, moderate-scale wind of 1–3?h, long-scale wind of 3–5?h, and super-long wind >5?h. Our analysis reveals that the IMF θ_CA has a distinct decrease with increase of the temporal scale of the solar wind. Next, the solar wind is classified into two groups, i.e., the high-speed solar wind (>450?km/s) and the low-speed solar wind (<450?km/s). Our analysis indicates that the IMF θ_CA depends highly on the solar wind speed. Statistically, high-speed solar wind tends to have larger IMF θ_CA than low-speed solar wind. The evolutions of the solar wind and IMF with the solar activity are further studied, revealing no clear solar variation of the IMF θ_CA. Finally, we analyze the monthly variation of the IMF θ_CA. Superposed epoch result strongly suggests the seasonal variation of the IMF θ_CA.     

Magnetospheric Boundary Layer Structure and Dynamics as Seen From Cluster and Double Star Measurements

In this review, we discuss the structure and dynamics of the magnetospheric Low-Latitude Boundary Layer (LLBL) based on recent results from multi-satellite missions Cluster and Double Star. This boundary layer, adjacent to the magnetopause on the magnetospheric side, usually consists of a mixture of plasma of magnetospheric and magnetosheath origins, and plays an important role in the transfer of mass and energy from the solar wind into the magnetosphere and subsequent magnetospheric dynamics. During southward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) conditions, this boundary layer is generally considered to be formed as a result of the reconnection process between the IMF and magnetospheric magnetic field lines at the dayside magnetopause, and the structure and plasma properties inside the LLBL can be understood in terms of the time history since the reconnection process. During northward IMF conditions, the LLBL is usually thicker, and has more complex structure and topology. Recent observations confirm that the LLBL observed at the dayside can be formed by single lobe reconnection, dual lobe reconnection, or by sequential dual lobe reconnection, as well as partially by localized cross-field diffusion. The LLBL magnetic topology and plasma signatures inside the different sub-layers formed by these processes are discussed in this review. The role of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in the formation of the LLBL at the flank magnetopause is also discussed. Overall, we conclude that the LLBL observed at the flanks can be formed by the combination of processes, (dual) lobe reconnection and plasma mixing due to non-linear Kelvin-Helmholtz waves.