Observations of Magnetic Reconnection in the Magnetotail Associated With Substorms

Magnetic reconnection is one of the most important, dynamic phenomena in the magnetotail in terms of magnetic field line configuration change and energy release. It is believed to occur in the distant magnetotail mainly during southward interplanetary magnetic field periods and in the near-Earth magnetotail in association with substorms. In the present paper, we discuss several important issues concerning magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail associated with substorms, such as reconnection signatures, location, timing, spatial scale, and behavior, from the macroscopic, observational point of view.      

Outstanding issues in understanding the dynamics of the inner plasma sheet and ring current during storms and substorms

The paper deals with five selected issues of the dynamical coupling of the near-Earth plasma sheet and magnetosphere, (1) substorm initiation, (2) dipolarization, (3) pressure release of the outer magnetosphere via the auroral energy conversion process, (4) magnetization of the very high beta plasma assembling at the inner edge of the tail, and (5) penetration of energetic particles into the ring current below L 4. One outstanding and strongly debated subject is not discussed here, the origin of the substorm current wedge. The main conclusions (or personal preferences) are: (1) the substorm is initiated by formation of a near-Earth neutral line; (2) dipolarization occurs through magnetic flux transport by the earthward reconnection flow and not by current diffusion; (3) the auroral energy conversion process, the “auroral pressure valve”, contributes substantially to the pressure release during the substorms; (4) high beta ( 10) plasma breaks up into smaller scale blobs under slow magnetization; and (5) deep and prolonged penetration of hot plasma sheet plasma into the middle magnetosphere produces currents and electric fields which lead to the growth of the storm-time ring current.     

Study of three dimensional structure of the fast convection flow in the plasma sheet by MHD simulations on the basis of spontaneous fast reconnection model

Three dimensional structure of the fast convection flow in the plasma sheet is examined using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations on the basis of spontaneous fast reconnection model. The fast flow observed in the near-Earth magnetotail is one of the key phenomena in order to understand the causal relationship between magnetic substorm and magnetic reconnection. In this paper, we focus on this earthward fast flow in the near-Earth magnetotail. Our previous studies have shown that the fast reconnection produces the Alfvénic fast reconnection outflow and drastic magnetic field dipolarization in the finite extent. In this paper, the results of our simulations are compared with those of the in-situ observations in the geomagnetotail. They have consistent temporal profiles of the plasma quantities. It is suggested that the fast convection flows are caused by spontaneous fast reconnection.     

Energy requirement of magnetic reconnection during magnetospheric substorms

Methods are discussed to estimate energy transfer from the solar wind to the magnetosphere during substorm growth phases. Observational and modeling constraints are then used to assess quantitatively the total amount of energy stored in the magnetotail. The major avenues of energy dissipation are examined and the energy that is released in the form of plasma sheet heating, ionospheric Joule heating, plasmoids, and energetic particle production during substorms is assessed. Energy sources are evaluated to drive substorm evolution in a particularly well-observed case: stored tail-lobe energy is sufficient to drive observed substorm dissipation processes (by large margins). On the other hand, energy in the closed field lines of the plasma sheet is insufficient to supply the substorm energy. Hence, magnetic reconnection is required on energy grounds during well-observed substorm cases.     

磁尾等离子体片对流对亚暴的影响

采用2(1/2)维全粒子电磁模拟方法研究了等离子体片中稳态对流及局地爆发高速流对磁层亚暴触发过程的影响.研究发现,地向瞬时局地高速流可触发磁场重联,导致储存于磁尾磁场能量的快速释放.但是,等离子体片稳态对流可抑制磁尾磁场重联过程.此项研究结果表明,局地爆发高速流能够触发磁层亚暴;而行星际磁场(IMF)持续南向时的稳态磁层对流期间,不易发生亚暴.      

Circulation of energetic ions of terrestrial origin in the magnetosphere

Energetic ion composition measurements have now been performed from earth orbiting satellites for more than a decade. As early as 1972 we knew that energetic (keV) ions of terrestrial origin represented a non-negligible component of the storm time ring current. We have now assembled a significant body of knowledge concerning energetic ion composition throughout much of the earth's magnetosphere. We know that terrestrial ions are a common component of the hot equatorial magnetospheric plasma in the ring current and the plasma sheet out to ? 23 R_E. During periods of enhanced geomagnetic activity this component may become dominant. There is also clear evidence that the terrestrial component (specifically O⁺) is strongly dependent on solar cycle. Terrestrial ion source, transport, and acceleration regions have been identified in the polar auroral region, over the polar caps, in the magnetospheric boundary layers, and within the magnetotail lobes and plasma sheet boundary layer. Combining our present knowledge of these various magnetospheric ion populations, it is concluded that the primary terrestrial ion circulation pattern associated with enhanced geomagnetic activity involves direct injection from the auroral ion acceleration region into the plasma sheet boundary layer and central plasma sheet. The observed terrestrial component of the magnetospheric boundary layer and magnetotail lobes are inadequate to provide the required influx. They may, however, contribute significantly to the maintenence of the plasma sheet terrestrial ion population, particularly during periods of reduced geomagnetic activity. It is further concluded, on the basis of the relative energy distributions of H⁺ and O⁺ in the plasma sheet, that O⁺ probably contributes significantly to the ring current population at energies inaccessible to present ion composition instrumentation (? 30 keV).     

A statistical analysis of substorm associated tail activity

Substorm onset timing is a critical issue in magnetotail dynamics research. Solar wind energy is accumulated in the magnetosphere and the configuration of the magnetosphere evolves toward an unstable state during the growth phase. At some point, the expansion phase begins and the stored energy is released through a variety of processes that return the magnetosphere to a lower energy state. In recovery the various processes die away. Unfortunately, the ground and magnetospheric signatures of onset, i.e. energy release, can be seen both in the growth phase prior to onset and in the expansion phase after onset. Some investigators refer to each of these events as a substorm. Tail observations suggest that most substorms have one event that differentiates the behavior of the tail field and plasma. We refer to this time as the “main substorm onset”. Each substorm associated phenomenon is timed independently and then compared with main substorm onsets. ISEE-2 tail observations are used to examine the tail lobe magnetic conditions associated with substorms because ISEE-2 orbit has a high inclination and frequently observes lobe field. Approximately 70 ∼ 75% of tail lobe B_t and B_z change are associated with the main substorm onset. If the satellite is more than 3 Re above (below) the neutral sheet, 86% (57%) of plasma pressure dropouts are associated with substorms. We interpret our results as evidence that the effect of the growth phase is to drive the magnetosphere towards instability. As it approaches global instability local regions become temporarily unstable but are rapidly quenched. Eventually one of these events develops into the global instability that releases most of the stored energy and returns the magnetosphere to a more stable configuration.     

Study of waves in the magnetotail region with cluster and DSP

The study of the neutral sheet is of fundamental importance in understanding the dynamics of the Earth’s magnetosphere. From the earliest observation of the magnetotail, it has been found that the neutral sheet frequently appears to be in motion due to changing solar wind conditions and geomagnetic activity. Multiple crossings of the neutral sheet by spacecraft have been attributed to a flapping motion of the neutral sheet in the north–south direction, a wavy profile either along the magnetotail or the dawn–dusk direction. Cluster observations have revealed that the flapping motions of the Earth’s magnetotail are of internal origin and that kink-like waves are emitted from the central part of the tail and propagate toward the tail flanks. This flapping motion is shown here to propagate at an angle of ∼45° with x_GSM. A possible assumption that the flapping could be created by a wake travelling away from a fast flow in the current sheet is rejected. Other waves in the magnetotail are found in the ULF range. One conjunction event between Cluster and DoubleStar TC1 is presented where all spacecraft show ULF wave activity at a period of approximately 5 min during fast Earthward flow. These waves are shown to be Kelvin–Helmholtz waves on the boundaries of the flow channel. Calculations show that the conversion of flow energy into magnetic energy through the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability can contribute to a significant part of flow breaking between Cluster and DoubleStar TC1.     

Multi-point observations of earthward fast flow in the plasma sheet by virtual satellites located in the MHD simulation domain

Time profiles of some physical values in earthward fast flows in the plasma sheet are observed at three dimensionally different positions by employing virtual satellites located in the three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulation domain, and these simulations are done on the basis of the spontaneous fast reconnection model. In the spontaneous fast reconnection evolution, the width of the flow channel is narrow in the dawn-dusk direction, and it does not spread until the plasma collides with the magnetic loop. The enhancements in B_z and V_x are larger at the center of the fast flow channel than those at its dawn and dusk edges, reflecting the differences in the reconnection rate in the diffusion region. The enhancement in V_x is shorter near the plasma sheet boundary layer than that near the neutral sheet, reflecting the changes in the thickness of the flow channel.     

Do we understand the inner magnetotail dynamics during substorms?

Substorm evolution of the near-Earth (|X|<15 R_E) plasma sheet has been emphasized recently because the inner tail is thought to link closely to the substorm auroral activity in the ionosphere during the early stage of substorms. In this paper, we discuss how the inner tail substorm phenomena during the late substorm growth phase and early expansion phase are accounted for by the two prevailing substorm models, namely, the near-Earth neutral line model and the current disruption model. We find that the late growth phase features are more satisfactorily accounted for by the current disruption model than by the near-Earth neutral line model. In addition, detailed observations on current disruption show evidence inconsistent with the proposed idea of dipolarization being due to plasma flow braking from reconnection in the mid-tail region, which poses a difficulty to the near-Earth neutral line model as well.     

Evaluation of substorm models with Cluster observations of plasma flow reversal in the magnetotail

We evaluate two prevailing substorm models with an event of plasma flow reversal from tailward to Earthward detected by Cluster at the downstream distance of ∼19 R_E in the magnetotail during a substorm on August 22, 2001. We use the unique capability of Cluster measurements in determining gradients to examine the associated current density, Lorentz force, and current dissipation/dynamo term. In association with plasma flow reversal, it is found that (1) there was no clear quadrupole magnetic perturbation signature, (2) the x-component of the Lorentz force did not change sign, (3) the y-component of the product of the current density and the electric field was occasionally negative indicative of a dynamo effect, and (4) the timing sequence of flow reversal from the Cluster configuration did not match tailward motion of a single plasma flow source. These observations are consistent with the near-Earth initiation model for substorms with multiple current disruption sites moving progressively tailward near the late stage of substorm expansion.     

行星际磁场北向时磁层顶区磁场重联的全球模式

在对背阳面磁层顶区局域磁场重联模拟的基础上提出了一个行星际磁场北向时磁层顶磁场重联的全球模式。行星际磁场北向时碰层顶磁场重联导致近地尾瓣的能量被输送到远磁尾,太阳风能量不在磁尾储存,向阳面磁层顶变厚,磁层受到一系列扰动。      

Two-spacecraft observations of reconnection at the magnetopause: Model results and data comparison

We revisit an example of “quasi-steady” magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause on February 11, 1998, observed by Equator-S and Geotail at the dawnside magnetopause. Phan et al. [Phan, T.D. et al., 2000. Extended magnetic reconnection at the Earth’s magnetopause from detection of bi-directional jets. Nature 404, 848–850.] reported oppositely directed jets at these spacecrafts and inferred a length of the reconnection line of about 38R_E. Pinnock et al. [Pinnock, M., Chisham, G., Coleman, I.J., Freeman, M.P., Hairston, M., Villain, J.-P., 2003. The location and rate of dayside reconnection during an interval of southward interplanetary magnetic field. Ann. Geophys. 21, 1467–1482.] used measurements from SuperDARN radars to show that the reconnection electric field was variable. Here we complement this work by obtaining snapshots of the reconnection electric field from the in situ observations. To do this, we apply a reconstruction method based on a model of compressible Petschek-type magnetic reconnection. This independent method uses magnetic field observations as input data to calculate the reconnection electric field. We obtain average values of E_rec in the range of 0.4–2.4 mV/m. Further we infer a distance perpendicular to the reconnection line of 0.4–0.6R_E. The model results are compared with the two studies mentioned above. It thus appears that while the transfer of momentum for this event is indeed large-scale, the actual rate depends on the time it is measured.     

Ion dynamics of magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail

We discuss the kinetic processes of plasma thermalization, acceleration, and mixing in magnetic reconnection. Non-Maxwellian, gyrotropic ion distribution functions such as anisotropic ion beams in the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL) and counter-streaming ions (CSIs) in the plasma sheet are often observed during a plasmoid passage of a satellite in the Earth's magnetotail. Non-gyrotropic ion distribution functions are also sometimes observed just after the passage of the plasmoid. We study the behavior of non-Maxwellian ion distribution functions observed by GEOTAIL. We further study theoretically the ion dynamics by using a particle-in-cell simulation, and discuss the role of non-Maxwellian distribution functions in magnetic reconnection.     

关于磁尾高能粒子脉冲的一些特性

利用行星际监察卫星IMP-J取得的高能粒子探测数据(质子能档P4:230keV>E>160keV)与极光电激流指数AE作相关分析,在地心太阳磁层坐标下,按照Fairfield关于中性片对地心太阳磁层"赤道面"的偏离模式,把磁尾分成三个区域:中性片区域、低纬区域和高纬区域。结果表明:(1)高能粒子脉冲的平均强度在中性片区域最强,低纬次之,高纬最弱,表明高能粒子脉冲源区在中性片区域;(2)中性片附近,粒子脉冲和AE指数相关最好,达0.59,低纬次之,高纬几乎无相关,表明粒子脉冲与亚暴事件有关,它是磁尾中性片附近磁力线重联产生的感应电场加速的结果;(3)粒子加速区局限于中性片附近的薄层内,与国外结果完全一致。      

Determination of reconnected flux via remote sensing

Magnetic reconnection is one of the most fundamental processes in the magnetosphere. We present here a simple method to determine the essential parameters of reconnection such as reconnected flux and location of the reconnection site out of single spacecraft data via remote sensing. On the basis of a time-dependent reconnection model, the dependence of the reconnected flux on the magnetic field z-component B_z is shown. The integral of B_z over time is proportional to the reconnected flux and depends on the distance between the reconnection site and the actual position where B_z is measured. This distance can be estimated from analysis of magnetic field B_z data. We apply our method to Cluster measurements in the Earth’s magnetotail.     

2001年9月15日Cluster卫星对电流片的观测研究

2001年9月15日0430-0515 UT期间,Cluster卫星多次穿越磁尾电流片.由FGM、CIS等仪器获得了电流片磁场,粒子速度等数据变化情况,并得到了磁尾高速流的两次明显反转.本文采用GSM坐标系.利用求磁场空间梯度张量的方法获得了越尾电流,其电流密度的峰值为28nA/m2.并对电流片在垂直方向上的摆动和在晨昏方向的波动现象进行了分析.数据显示此时电流片为薄电流片并有一个变薄的趋势,其厚度大约为0.2-0.3 Re.磁场重联时地向流与尾向流均超过了1000 km/s,并测得了电流片的法线方向和运动速度,从而得到了磁尾电流片的结构和运动情况.      

Generation mechanism of the whistler-mode waves in the plasma sheet prior to magnetic reconnection

The whistler-mode waves and electron temperature anisotropy play a key role prior to and during magnetic reconnection. On August 21, 2002, the Cluster spacecrafts encountered a quasi-collisionless magnetic reconnection event when they crossed the plasma sheet. Prior to the southward turning of magnetospheric magnetic field and high speed ion flow, the whistler-mode waves and positive electron temperature anisotropy are simultaneously observed. Theoretic analysis shows that the electrons with positive temperature anisotropy can excite the whistler-mode waves via cyclotron resonances. Using the data of particles and magnetic field, we estimated the whistler-mode wave growth rate and the ratio of whistler-mode growth rate to wave frequency. They are 0.0016f_ce (Electron cyclotron frequency) and 0.0086f_ce, respectively. Therefore the whistler-mode waves can grow quickly in the current sheet. The combined observations of energetic electron beams and waves show that after the southward turning of magnetic field, energetic electrons in the reconnection process are accelerated by the whistler-mode waves.     

On the large-scale structure of the tail current as measured by THEMIS

The magnetic field structure and the spatial characteristics of the large-scale currents in the magnetospheric tail were studied during quiet and moderately disturbed geomagnetic conditions in 2009. The magnetic field of the currents other than the tail current was calculated in terms of a paraboloid model of the Earth’s magnetosphere, A2000, and was subtracted from measurements. It was found on the base of obtained tail current magnetic field radial distribution that the inner edge of the tail current sheet is located in the night side magnetosphere, at distances of about 10 R_E and of about 7 R_E during quiet and disturbed periods respectively. During the disturbance of February 14, 2009 (Dst_min ∼ −35 nT), the B_x and the B_z component of the tail current magnetic field near its inner edge were about 60 nT, and −60 nT that means that strong cross-tail current have been developed. The tail current parameters at different time moments during February 14, 2009 have been estimated. Solar wind conditions during this event were consistent with those during moderate magnetic storms with minimum Dst of about −100 nT. However, the magnetospheric current systems (magnetopause and cross-tail currents) were located at larger geocentric distances than typical during the 2009 extremely quiet epoch and did not provide the expected Dst magnitude. Very small disturbance on the Earth’s surface was detected consistent with an “inflated” magnetosphere.