Kink-like mode of a double gradient instability in a compressible plasma current sheet

A linear MHD instability of the electric current sheet, characterized by a small normal magnetic field component, varying along the sheet, is investigated. The tangential magnetic field component is modeled by a hyperbolic function, describing Harris-like variations of the field across the sheet. For this problem, which is formulated in a 3D domain, the conventional compressible ideal MHD equations are applied. By assuming Fourier harmonics along the electric current, the linearized 3D equations are reduced to 2D ones. A finite difference numerical scheme is applied to examine the time evolution of small initial perturbations of the plasma parameters. This work is an extended numerical study of the so called “double gradient instability”, – a possible candidate for the explanation of flapping oscillations in the magnetotail current sheet, which has been analyzed previously in the framework of a simplified analytical approach for an incompressible plasma. The dispersion curve is obtained for the kink-like mode of the instability. It is shown that this curve demonstrates a quantitative agreement with the previous analytical result. The development of the instability is investigated also for various enhanced values of the normal magnetic field component. It is found that the characteristic values of the growth rate of the instability shows a linear dependence on the square root of the parameter, which scales uniformly the normal component of the magnetic field in the current sheet.     

Some characteristics of propagation of flare- or CME-associated interplanetary shock waves

Many interplanetary shock waves have a fast mode MHD wave Mach number between one and two and the ambient solar wind plasma and magnetic field are known to fluctuate. Therefore a weak, fast, MHD interplanetary shock wave propagating into a fluctuating solar wind region or into a solar wind stream will be expected to vary its strength.It is possible that an interplanetary shock wave, upon entering such a region will weaken its strength and degenerate into a fast-mode MHD wave. It is even possible that the shock may dissipate and disappear.A model for the propagation of a solar flare - or CME (Coronal Mass Ejections) - associated interplanetary shock wave is given. A physical mechanism is described to calculate the probability that a weak shock which enters a turbulent solar wind region will degenerate into a MHD wave. That is, the shock would disappear as an entropy-generate entity. This model also suggests that most interplanetary shock waves cannot propagate continuously with a smooth shock surface. It is suggested that the surface of an interplanetary shock will be highly distorted and that parts of the shock surface can degenerate into MHD waves or even disappear during its global propagation through interplanetary space. A few observations to support this model will be briefly described.Finally, this model of shock propagation also applies to corotating shocks. As corotating shocks propagate into fluctuating ambient solar wind regions, shocks may degenerate into waves or disappear.     

A transient MHD model applicable for the source of solar cosmic ray acceleration

A two-dimensional, time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model is used to describe the possible mechanisms for the source of solar cosmic ray acceleration following a solar flare. The hypothesis is based on the propagation of fast mode MHD shocks following a sudden release of energy. This model has already been used with some success for simulation of some major features of type II shocks and white light coronal transients. In this presentation, we have studied the effects of initial magnetic topology and strength on the formation of MHD shocks. We consider the plasma beta (thermal pressure/magnetic pressure) as a measure of the $\text{initial}$, relative strength of the field. During dynamic mass motion, the Alfvén Mach number is the more appropriate measure of the magnetic field's ability to control the outward motion. We suggest that this model (computed self-consistently) provides the shock wave and the disturbed mass motion behind it as likely sources for solar cosmic ray acceleration.     

行星际慢激波的传播和演化

采用二维理想MHD模型，分别在日球赤道面(二维二分量模型)和日球子午面(二维三分量模型)内研究太阳风中慢激波的传播和演化规律．结果表明，慢激波在向外传播的过程中逐渐演化为由原慢激波和新产生的快激波构成的激波系统，该激波系统在子午面内相对慢激波源中心法线基本对称，而在赤道面内则是不对称的：快激波阵面和慢激波阵面之间存在一个切触点，该处两个激波合并，蜕化为气体激波．上述切触点相对激波源中心法线东偏，且东偏角度在激波系统向外传播过程中不断增加．初步分析表明，行星际磁场的螺旋结构是产生日球赤道面内慢激波传播和演化的东西不对称性的主要原因．     

Magnetic reconnection in solar flares and corresponding radio bursts

The 2D MHD model of the flare magnetic reconnection shows that a reconnection activity, changes of the magnetic field topology and generation of waves are connected. It is found that after the phase of a quasi-stationary reconnection in the extended current sheet above the flare arcade the tearing mode instability produces the plasmoids which then can interact and generate MHD waves. Results of particle-in-cell simulations of the tearing processes, which accelerate electrons, are mentioned. Then all these processes are discussed from the point of view of possible radio emissions. While shocks can contribute to the type II radio burst, the superthermal electrons trapped in plasmoids can generate so called drifting pulsating structures. Furthermore, regions with the MHD turbulence may manifest themselves as the lace or dm-spike bursts.     

多重激波的数值模拟研究

本文用一维混合粒子模拟Code研究了包括中间激波在内的多重激波.模拟了四种情形,可以分为两类:(1)由快激波和中间激波构成的两重激波,(2)快激波、中间激波和慢激波构成的三重激波.结果表明:多重激波是不稳定的,它趋向于发展成磁流体旋转间断和MHD波,左旋圆偏振波逐渐在上游区内发展起来.文章对导致多重激波不稳定性的可能原因进行了简单的讨论.     

Interplanetary shocks and geomagnetic activity during solar maximum (2000) and solar minimum (1995–1996)

Plasma and magnetic field parameter variations through fast forward interplanetary shocks were correlated with the peak geomagnetic activity index Dst in a period from 0 to 3 days after the shock, during solar maximum (2000) and solar minimum (1995–1996). Solar wind speed (V) and total magnetic field (B_t) were the parameters with higher correlations with peak Dst index. The correlation coefficients were higher during solar minimum (r² = 56% for V and 39% for B_t) than during solar maximum (r² = 15% for V and 12% for B_t). A statistical distribution of geomagnetic activity levels following interplanetary shocks was obtained. It was observed that during solar maximum, 36% and 28% of interplanetary shocks were followed by intense (Dst  −100 nT) and moderate (−50  Dst < −100 nT) geomagnetic activity, whereas during solar minimum 13% and 33% of the shocks were followed by intense and moderate geomagnetic activity. It can be concluded that the upstream/downstream variations of V and B_t through the shocks were the parameters better correlated with geomagnetic activity level, and during solar maximum a higher relative number of interplanetary shocks can be followed by intense geomagnetic activity than during solar minimum. One can extrapolate, for forecasting goals, that during a whole solar cycle a shock has a probability of around 50% to be followed by intense/moderate geomagnetic activity.     

磁流体斜激波的汇合

本文讨论磁流体快、慢激波的汇合作用规律,主要结论如下:(1)两个前向快激波汇合之后,形成一更强的前向快激波,尾随一前向慢稀疏波、一正接触间断(后侧密度大于前侧)、一后向慢激波和一后向快稀疏浚。(2)两个前向慢激波汇合之后,形成一更强的前向慢激波,尾随一正接触间断、一后向慢稀疏波和一后向快激波2在前向慢激波前方出现一前向快波,它或为稀疏浚(中、小激波角情况),或为激波(大激波角情况).(3)前向快激波会追上前向慢激波而发生汇合,之后互换位置且强度减弱,尾随一正接触间断和一后向稀疏波对。      

Propagation of interplanetary shocks into the Earth’s magnetosphere

This paper is devoted to the study of propagation of disturbances caused by interplanetary shocks (IPS) through the Earth’s magnetosphere. Using simultaneous observations of various fast forward shocks by different satellites in the solar wind, magnetosheath and magnetosphere from 1995 till 2002, we traced the interplanetary shocks into the Earth’s magnetosphere, we calculated the velocity of their propagation into the Earth’s magnetosphere and analyzed fronts of the disturbances. From the onset of disturbances at different satellites in the magnetosphere we obtained speed values ranging from 500 to 1300 km/s in the direction along the IP shock normal, that is in a general agreement with results of previous numerical MHD simulations. The paper discusses in detail a sequence of two events on November 9th, 2002. For the two cases we estimated the propagation speed of the IP shock caused disturbance between the dayside and nightside magnetosphere to be 590 km/s and 714–741 km/s, respectively. We partially attributed this increase to higher Alfven speed in the outer magnetosphere due to the compression of the magnetosphere as a consequence of the first event, and partially to the faster and stronger driving interplanetary shock. High-time resolution GOES magnetic field data revealed a complex structure of the compressional wave fronts at the dayside geosynchronous orbit during these events, with initial very steep parts (10 s). We discuss a few possible mechanisms of such steep front formation in the paper.     

磁流体中间激波的相互作用

本文讨论磁流体中间激波的相互作用规律．主要结论：中间激波汇合的产物为后向快简单波、后向慢简单波或慢激波、接触间断、前向慢激波和前向快激波，其中后向波成份和接触间断很弱．当左（右）激波较强时，中国激波碰撞产物为后（前）向快激波、后（前）向慢简单波或慢激波、负（正）切向间断、前（后）向慢简单波和前（后）向快激波．     

磁流体斜激波的碰撞

讨论了磁流体斜激波之间的碰撞及其与接触间断的相互作用规律,主要结论如下:(1)两个快激波碰撞后交换位置,同时出现一接触间断和一慢稀疏波对。(2)两个慢激波碰撞后交换位置且强度减弱,同时出现一接触间断和一块激波对。(3)一前向快激波与一后向慢激波碰撞后交换位置,快激波强度增加,慢激波强度减弱,同时出现一后向快激波、一负接触间断和一前向慢稀疏波。(4)一前向快激波与一正(负)接触间断相互作用后交换位置,快激波减弱,同时出现一后向快稀疏波(快激波)、一后向慢激波和一前向慢激波(慢稀疏波).(5)一前向慢激波与一正(负)接触间断相互作用后交换位置,慢激波减弱,同时出现一后向慢稀疏波(慢激波)和一快稀疏波(快激波)对。      

Three-dimensional global simulation of multiple ICMEs’ interaction and propagation from the Sun to the heliosphere following the 25–28 October 2003 solar events

This study performs simulations of interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) propagation in a realistic three-dimensional (3D) solar wind structure from the Sun to the Earth by using the newly developed hybrid code, HAFv.2+3DMHD. This model combines two simulation codes, Hakamada–Akasofu–Fry code version 2 (HAFv.2) and a fully 3D, time-dependent MHD simulation code. The solar wind structure is simulated out to 0.08 AU (18 Rs) from source surface maps using the HAFv.2 code. The outputs at 0.08 AU are then used to provide inputs for the lower boundary, at that location, of the 3D MHD code to calculate solar wind and its evolution to 1 AU and beyond. A dynamic disturbance, mimicking a particular flare’s energy output, is delivered to this non-uniform structure to model the evolution and interplanetary propagation of ICMEs (including their shocks). We then show the interaction between two ICMEs and the dynamic process during the overtaking of one shock by the other. The results show that both CMEs and heliosphere current sheet/plasma sheet were deformed by interacting with each other.     

一种确定模拟的行星际MHD激波局地参数的新方法

简要阐述了分析模拟的行星际磁流体力学（MHD）激波的局部性质时，采用无厚度局部平面激波这一假设的合理性，说明了在激波未扰动区域（激波上游），物理量在几个小时内的变化很小这一事实，利用平面激波的分析方法，提出了分析模拟的行星际MHD激波的新方法，包括激波位置的确定，上下游状态参数的选择，激波局部参数的计算以及激波的分类，最后应用这种方法对一个二维的MHD模拟结果进行了分析。结果证实了过去文献关于磁流体力学混合激波空间连接和时间演化的链式规则，而且说明位于太阳赤道附近的慢激波和中间激波最终会发展为快激波。     

How to address the accuracy of empirical magnetic field models?

Empirical magnetic field models are compared with high-altitude magnetic field measurements and results from an MHD simulation. Comparison of the T96 model and observations from GOES-8 and GOES-9 shows that if the observed solar wind and IMF parameters are used to compute the model field, the model field is more stretched than the observed field. On the other hand, if measurements made by one spacecraft are used to find the model parameters that give a best-fit field at that location, the RMS error can be reduced also at the other spacecraft four hours away in local time. Comparison of T96 model and MHD simulation results shows that the empirical models have a thinner current sheet than the MHD simulation, but that the lobe field values are quite similar to each other. Furthermore, a comparison of an event-oriented, modified T89 model and MHD simulation by Pulkkinen et al. [2000] reveals that if the empirical model is constructed by fitting to in-situ measurements, the resulting model is very similar to the MHD simulation magnetic field. These results indicate that an efficient method of utilizing the present-day empirical models is to select model parameters based on measurements from a few individual points.     

行星际激波的多方指数

从Ｈｅｌｉｏｓ等６个飞船１９７２年至１９８７年的太阳风观测资料找出９８６个行星际快激波，利用ＭＨＤ Ｒａｎｋｉｎｅ－Ｈｕｇｏｎｉｏｔ方程组分析了激波上下游参数关系，确定出每一个激波的最佳多方指数。结果指出，多方指数有一分布，其最可几值约在１．７０－１．７５之间。     

Propagation and interaction of interplanetary transient disturbances. Numerical simulations

We study the heliocentric evolution of ICME-like disturbances and their associated transient forward shocks (TFSs) propagating in the interplanetary (IP) medium comparing the solutions of a hydrodynamic (HD) and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models using the ZEUS-3D code [Stone, J.M., Norman, M.L., 1992. Zeus-2d: a radiation magnetohydrodynamics code for astrophysical flows in two space dimensions. i – the hydrodynamic algorithms and tests. Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 80, 753–790]. The simulations show that when a fast ICME and its associated IP shock propagate in the inner heliosphere they have an initial phase of about quasi-constant propagation speed (small deceleration) followed, after a critical distance (deflection point), by an exponential deceleration. By combining white light coronograph and interplanetary scintillation (IPS) measurements of ICMEs propagating within 1 AU [Manoharan, P.K., 2005. Evolution of coronal mass ejections in the inner heliosphere: a study using white-light and scintillation images. Solar Physics 235 (1–2), 345–368], such a critical distance and deceleration has already been inferred observationally. In addition, we also address the interaction between two ICME-like disturbances: a fast ICME 2 overtaking a previously launched slower ICME 1. After interaction, the leading ICME 1 accelerates and the tracking ICME 2 decelerates and both ICMEs tend to arrive at 1 AU having similar speeds. The 2-D HD and MHD models show similar qualitative results for the evolution and interaction of these disturbances in the IP medium.     

耀斑激波的相互作用

采用一维磁流体力学模型和激波装配法，分析两个相继出现的耀斑激波的相互作用.前导激波下游的稀疏波显著改变后随激波的特性，并在它的下游产生强后向快激波.两耀斑激波汇合后将在下游形成密度比约为1.5的接触间断.     

激波在行星际介质中的能量耗散

导出激波下游介质相对上游介质能流通量增量公式,并由HeliosA,B飞船太阳风观测资料得出不同流速太阳风流中各参量随日心距的幂律变化。以此作为背景值分别计算出磁能、内能、动能和总能在不同日心距离处的能量耗散率。结果指出激波后介质以动能增加为主,内能次之,磁能最少;总能耗率在近日处较大,但下降较快。从0.3-1.0AU,不同强度激波总能耗随初始Alfvén激波数A₁₀增大而增大,对A₁₀从2.0-10.0的计算结果与观测值一致。      

火星空间磁场结构特征

在火星空间模拟的单流体MHD模型的基础上, 研究了火星空间磁场结构及火星表面局部磁异常对磁场结构的影响. 在太阳风与火星相互作用的过程中, 形成弓激波和磁堆积区, 行星际磁场弯曲并向两极移动且被拖拽变形, 大部分磁力线从火星两极绕过, 通过火星之后在磁尾留下V字形结构. 火星表面附近局部磁异常也对火星磁场结构产生不可忽视的影响. 不同位置和强度的磁异常与太阳风相互作用形成结构及形态各异的微磁层, 如被拖拽的微磁层和存在开磁力线的微磁层等. 局部磁异常改变了近火磁场结构, 并可能改变等离子体的分布.      

磁云—高速流相互作用的数值模拟

对１９７８年８月２７至２８日期间观测到的磁云与尾随高速流的相互作用进行数值模拟，基本拟合了１ＡＵ处的观测剖面。模拟结果表明，磁云－高速流系统将导致前向快，慢激波和后向快激波的形成。