IMF北向时太阳风粒子向磁层输运的试验粒子模拟研究

以ACE卫星实时观测数据驱动的全球磁流体模拟为背景场,选取2003年10月22－24日行星际磁场（IMF）持续北向的事件,使用试验粒子方法,对太阳风粒子向磁层输运的过程进行模拟研究,分析北向IMF下太阳风粒子注入磁层过程中粒子在磁层内的空间分布和时间演化特征。IMF北向期间,进入环电流区域的粒子在晨侧区域的密度大于昏侧,且晨侧的粒子分布范围更广。背阳面磁鞘中的太阳风粒子可以通过低纬边界层进入磁层,但很难通过南北侧磁层顶进入磁层。进入磁尾的太阳风粒子聚集形成冷而密的等离子体片（CDPS）,模拟中CDPS的空间分布和密度大小与观测数据符合。在IMF长时间北向期间,磁尾的粒子数量呈现随时间增长的趋势,并存在约20 min的小幅度准周期变化和约5~6 h的较大幅度的准周期变化。      

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.      

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.      

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.      

余辉等离子体的实验研究

利用调制脉冲产生的余辉等离子体的参数测量表明:等离子体空间电位和电子温度的衰变是重要的,它在余辉等离子体的密度衰变过程研究中必须予以考虑.对容器中余辉等离子体密度径向分布的测量结果与理论预言是一致的.     

嫦娥一号卫星太阳风离子探测器离子流量反演太阳风参数与初步结果分析

嫦娥一号卫星(Chang'E-1)上搭载的两台太阳风离子探测器(SWID-A/B)是国际上首次在200 km极月轨道观测等离子体环境的探测仪器.SWID-A/B的科学目标是探测月球附近等离子体与月球的相互作用,获得月球附近的太阳风速度、密度和温度.太阳风离子探测器的观测数据是各能量成分离子流量的直接反映,包含了太阳风离子的速度、密度和温度信息.本文设计了一种利用离子流量数据反演太阳风速度、密度和温度的算法,并通过模拟太阳风离子注入探测器的过程,验证了算法的可行性.对月球附近太阳风离子基本特征的分析研究表明,在太阳活动低年,空间环境扰动水平相对较低时,行星际太阳风运动到月球附近后依然保持着相同的变化趋势;太阳风离子的速度和密度与在上游行星际空间时相近;太阳风离子的温度则比在上游行星际空间时高103 K.     

中心等离子体片的地向对流型高速流

在GSM坐标系下, 利用TC-1卫星和Cluster/C1卫星上4s分辨率的磁场和热离子探测数据, 对中心等离子体片内的地向对流型高速流进行了统计研究(-19 Re < x< -9 Re, |y| < 10 Re, |z|< 5 Re). 统计结果表明, 地向对流型高速流会在15 Re以内出现``刹车', 在11.5 Re附近时出现``缺失'. 进一步对其速度特征进行统计分析. 结果显示, 在中心等离子体片内的高速流, 其运动方向主要为地向, 晨昏和南北方向的运动明显较弱; 在对流型高速流的地向输运过程中, 其峰值速度没有明显的下降; 在近地13 Re以内, 等离子体片内的地向对流型高速流具有较强的垂直磁力线运动速度. 这意味着对流型高速流在近地15 Re以内的“刹车”不是由高速流晨昏或南北方向的偏转造成的. 高速流在11.5 Re附近时出现的``缺失'可能与在15 Re以内出现``刹车'密切相关. TC-1卫星和Cluster卫星的观测为了解中磁尾重联高速流地向输运过程及亚暴膨胀相触发提供了重要的观测依据.      

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.      

有限β等离子体中密度和磁场不均匀驱动的动理学Alfven波

在分析有限β等离子体中的密度、磁场不均匀引起的漂移波不稳定性的基础上，剖析了漂移波不稳定性对动理学Alfven波激发的作用．动理学理论能正确地处理有限拉莫半径效应和波粒共振相互作用，本文根据带电粒子在电磁场中的运动特性，采用Vlasov方程描述离子运动，运用漂移动理学方程对电子运动进行描述．密度不均匀和磁场不均匀对产生漂移不稳定性的对比分析表明：在有限β等离子体中，密度不均匀比磁场不均匀更易激发漂移不稳定性，且密度不均匀激发漂移不稳定性中的能量转换和转移更为强烈．这种能量的转换为动理学Alfven波的激发提供了物理基础．所得数值解表明：动理学Alfven波在磁层中能广泛地被激发产生，特别是在磁层空间的极尖区、磁层顶和等离子体片边界层等具有明显的不均匀性区域中更容易被激发产生．本文的研究结果进一步表明动理学Alfven波对磁层空间中能量传输具有重要作用．     

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.     

Spatial distribution of the magnetosheath ion flux

The magnetosheath plays a crucial role in solar wind-magnetosphere interaction because it is the magnetosheath magnetic field and plasma that interact with the magnetopause and magnetosphere, not the unshocked solar wind. We are presenting ion flux measurement statistics at both the dawn and dusk flanks of the magnetosheath and their comparison with a gasdynamic magnetosheath model. The study is based on three years of INTERBALL-1 measurements supported by simultaneous WIND solar wind and magnetic field observations. Statistical processing has shown (1) the limitations of the gasdynamic model, (2) the conditions favorable for the creation of a plasma depletion layer adjacent to the flank magnetopause, (3) strong dawn-dusk asymmetry of the ion fluxes, and (4) an evidence for the presence of a slow mode front adjacent to the magnetopause.     

Parameterized Regional Ionospheric Model and a comparison of its results with experimental data and IRI representations

We describe a Parameterized Regional Ionospheric Model (PARIM) to calculate the spatial and temporal variations of the ionospheric electron density/plasma frequency over the Brazilian sector. The ionospheric plasma frequency values as calculated from an enhanced Sheffield University Plasmasphere–Ionosphere Model (SUPIM) were used to construct the model. PARIM is a time-independent 3D regional model (altitude, longitude/local time, latitude) used to reproduce SUPIM plasma frequencies for geomagnetic quiet condition, for any day of the year and for low to moderately high solar activity. The procedure to obtain the modeled representation uses finite Fourier series so that all plasma frequency dependencies can be represented by Fourier coefficients. PARIM presents very good results, except for the F region peak height (hmF2) near the geomagnetic equator during times of occurrence of the F₃ layer. The plasma frequency calculated by IRI from E region to bottomside of the F region present latitudinal discontinuities during morning and evening times for both solar minimum and solar maximum conditions. Both the results of PARIM and the IRI for the E region peak density show excellent agreement with the observational values obtained during the conjugate point equatorial experiment (COPEX) campaign. The IRI representations significantly underestimate the foF2 and hmF2 compared to the observational results over the COPEX sites, mainly during the evening–nighttime period.     

Observation of the north-south asymmetry in the equatorial spread F intensity at the Brazilian longitude

This study presents an analysis of the observed north-south asymmetry of the range spread F (RSF) intensity at the low latitude region during an equinoctial month of different solar epochs (2002, 2015 and 2017). The ionospheric parameters were obtained during geomagnetic quiet days from four digisonde stations located along the Brazilian longitude, which include a dip equator station (Sao Luiz (SL: 2.33 S, 44.2 W)), conjugate stations (Campo Grande (CG: 20.5°S, 55°W) and Boa Vista (BV: 2.8°N, 60.7°W)) and another low latitude station (Cachoeira Paulista (CP: 22.7°S, 45°W)). The results highlight the competing effect of the post-sunset electric field strength and the trans-equatorial wind on the latitudinal distribution of the irregularity intensity at both hemispheres under varying background ionospheric condition. The RSF intensity was seen to reduce as the solar flux index decreased and the latitudinal peak shifted closer to the dip equator. This was dependent on the variation of the field line mapped irregularity spectrum and the density gradient. Likewise, the north-south asymmetry in the irregularity occurrence was seen to become more significant as a denser ionosphere was observed at the hemisphere with the equatorward meridional wind. This has further proven that the non-linear cascading of the plasma irregularity across the low latitude region is strongly influenced by the local electric field.     

Development of Operational Space Weather Prediction Models

In this report, we summarize the needs of space weather models, and recommend that developing operational prediction models, rather than transitioning from research to operation, is a more feasible and critical way for space weather services in the near future. Operational models for solar wind speed, geomagnetic indices, magnetopause, plasma sheet energetic electrons, inner boundary of ion plasma sheet, energetic electrons in outer radiation belt, and thermospheric density at low Earth orbit, have been developed and will be introduced briefly here. Their applications made a big progress in space weather services during the past two years in China.      

Relative contributions of terrestrial and solar wind ions in the plasma sheet

A major uncertainty concerning the origins of plasma sheet ions is due to the fact that terrestrial H⁺ can have similar fluxes and energies as H⁺ from the solar wind. The situation is especially ambiguous during magnetically quiet conditions (AE < 60γ) when H⁺ typically contributes more than 90% of the plasma sheet ion population. In this study we examine that problem using a large data set obtained by the ISEE-1 Plasma Composition Experiment. The data suggest that one component of the H⁺ increases in energy with increasing activity, roughly in proportion to $\text{1}\text{4}$ the energy of the He⁺⁺, whereas the other H⁺ component has about the same energy at all activity levels, as do the O⁺ and the He⁺. If we can assume that the H⁺ of solar wind origin on the average has about the same energy-per-nucleon as the He⁺⁺, which is presumably almost entirely from the solar wind, then the data imply that as much as 20–30% of the H⁺ can be of terrestrial origin even during quiet conditions.     

North–South asymmetry in cosmic ray fluxes as measured in the stratosphere and in selected solar wind parameters in the near-Earth space

North–South asymmetry in the cosmic ray fluxes as resulted from the long-term balloon measurements in the northern and southern polar stratosphere does not agree with that found from the neutron monitor data. In order to reveal possible sources of the observed asymmetry, selected interplanetary parameters were examined. North–South asymmetry relative to the heliospheric neutral sheet was considered for solar wind velocity, plasma density and some other solar plasma parameters. It is shown that North–South asymmetry of the solar wind velocity and plasma density depends on the Earth’s heliolatitude and the phase of the 11-year solar activity cycle. This may be relevant to the results of cosmic ray measurements in the stratosphere.     

Variations in statistical parameters of the NmF2 equinoctial asymmetry with latitude and solar activity near noon

Hourly values of the F2-layer peak density, NmF2, measured by 95 ionosondes near noon from 1957 to 2011 at low and middle geomagnetic latitudes of the northern and southern geographic hemispheres are used in a statistical study of the NmF2 equinoctial asymmetry. The ratios, R, of NmF2 measured during 61 days around the March equinox to NmF2 measured during 61 days around the September equinox at the same UT near noon during geomagnetically quiet daytime conditions for approximately the same solar activity conditions over the same ionosonde are analyzed. The conditional probability of the occurrence of R in an interval of R, the most probable value of R, and the mean expected value of R are calculated for the first time for the low, moderate, and high solar activity levels to study variations in these statistical parameters with latitude and solar activity. These statistical parameters are averaged over 5° geomagnetic latitude interval in the northern and southern geographic hemispheres to calculate and to study for the first time trends in latitude and solar activity of these averaged NmF2 equinoctial asymmetry statistical characteristics.