Why space physics needs to go beyond the MHD box

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theory has been used in space physics for more than forty years, yet many important questions about space plasmas remain unanswered. We still do not understand how the solar wind is accelerated, how mass, momentum and energy are transported into the magnetosphere and what mechanisms initiate substorms. Questions have been raised from the beginning of the space era whether MHD theory can describe correctly space plasmas that are collisionless and rarely in thermal equilibrium. Ideal MHD fluids do not induce electromotive force, hence they lose the capability to interact electromagnetically. No currents and magnetic fields are generated, rendering ideal MHD theory not very useful for space plasmas. Observations from the plasma sheet are used as examples to show how collisionless plasmas behave. Interpreting these observations using MHD and ideal MHD concepts can lead to misleading conclusions. Notably, the bursty bulk flows (BBF) with large mean velocities left(〈 v 〉≥400 km s right) that have been interpreted previously as E×B flows are shown to involve much more complicated physics. The sources of these nonvanishing 〈 v 〉 events, while still not known, are intimately related to mechanisms that create large phase space gradients that include beams and acceleration of ions to MeV energies. The distributions of these nonvanishing 〈 v 〉 events are associated with large amplitude variations of the magnetic field at frequencies up to and exceeding the local Larmor frequency where MHD theory is not valid. Understanding collisionless plasma dynamics such as substorms in the plasma sheet requires the self-consistency that only kinetic theory can provide. Kinetic modeling is still undergoing continual development with many studies limited to one and two dimensions, but there is urgent need to improve these models as more and more data show kinetic physics is fundamentally important. Only then will we be able to make progress and obtain a correct picture of how collisionless plasmas work in space.     

EIT Waves: A Changing Understanding over a Solar Cycle

We present here a review of observations and the current theories that attempt to explain coronal EIT waves. EIT waves were first observed by SOHO-EIT in 1996. Since then, careful analysis has shown that they are related to various other phenomena, such as: CMEs, coronal dimming regions, Moreton waves, and transverse coronal loop oscillations. Over the years, myriad theories have been proposed to explain EIT waves. Early attempts, while elegant, relied heavily on theories based on pre-coronal observations. More recent work, which tends to consider a larger data pool, has led to two competing theoretical camps: wave vs. non-wave models; in many cases, proposed hypotheses flatly contradict each other. Sifting through these seemingly-incongruous models requires a thorough understanding of the available data, as some observations make certain theories more difficult to justify. However, some questions still do not appear resolvable with current data and will likely require help from the next generation of coronal telescopes.     

Non-adiabatic Ion Acceleration in the Earth Magnetotail and Its Various Manifestations in the Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer

Many physical phenomena in space involve energy dissipation which generally leads to charged particle acceleration, often up to very high energies. In the Earth magnetosphere energy accumulation and release occur in the magnetotail, namely in its Current Sheet (CS). The kinetic analysis of non-adiabatic ion trajectories in the CS region with finite but positive normal component of the magnetic field demonstrated that this region is essentially non-uniform in terms of scattering characteristics of ion orbits and contains spatially localized, well-separated sites of enhanced and reduced chaotization. The latter represent sources from which accelerated and energy-collimated ions are ejected into Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer (PSBL) and stream towards the Earth. Numerical simulations performed as part of a Large-Scale Kinetic Model have shown the multiplet ion structure of the PSBL is formed by a set of ion beams (beamlets) localized both in physical and velocity space. This structure of the PSBL is quite different from the one produced by CS acceleration near a magnetic reconnection region in which more energetic ion beams are generated with a broad range of parallel velocities. Multi-point Cluster observations in the magnetotail PSBL not only showed that non-adiabatic ion acceleration occurs on closed magnetic field lines with at least two CS sources operating simultaneously, but also allowed an estimation of their spatial and temporal characteristics. In this paper we discuss and compare the PSBL manifestations of both mechanisms of CS particle acceleration: one based on the peculiar properties of non-adiabatic ion trajectories which operates on closed magnetic field lines and the other representing the well-explored mechanism of particle acceleration during the course of magnetic reconnection. We show that these two mechanisms supplement each other and the first operates mostly during quiescent magnetotail periods.     

The Origin,Early Evolution and Predictability of Solar Eruptions

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were discovered in the early 1970s when space-borne coronagraphs revealed that eruptions of plasma are ejected from the Sun. Today, it is known that the Sun produces eruptive flares, filament eruptions, coronal mass ejections and failed eruptions; all thought to be due to a release of energy stored in the coronal magnetic field during its drastic reconfiguration. This review discusses the observations and physical mechanisms behind this eruptive activity, with a view to making an assessment of the current capability of forecasting these events for space weather risk and impact mitigation. Whilst a wealth of observations exist, and detailed models have been developed, there still exists a need to draw these approaches together. In particular more realistic models are encouraged in order to asses the full range of complexity of the solar atmosphere and the criteria for which an eruption is formed. From the observational side, a more detailed understanding of the role of photospheric flows and reconnection is needed in order to identify the evolutionary path that ultimately means a magnetic structure will erupt.     

Alfvén Waves and Their Roles in the Dynamics of the Earth’s Magnetotail: A Review

The Earth’s magnetotail is an extremely complex system which—energized by the solar wind—displays many phenomena, and Alfvén waves are essential to its dynamics. While Alfvén waves were first predicted in the early 1940’s and ample observations were later made with rockets and low-altitude satellites, observational evidence of Alfvén waves in different regions of the extended magnetotail has been sparse until the beginning of the new millennium. Here I provide a phenomenological overview of Alfvén waves in the magnetotail organized by region—plasmasphere, central plasma sheet, plasma sheet boundary layer, tail lobes, and reconnection region—with an emphasis on spacecraft observations reported in the new millennium that have advanced our understanding concerning the roles of Alfvén waves in the dynamics of the magnetotail. A brief discussion of the coupling of magnetotail Alfvén waves and the low-altitude auroral zone is also included.     

Observations of inverted-V electron precipitation

The characteristics of inverted-V electron precipitation fluxes deduced predominantly from observations by the Atmosphere Explorer satellites are reviewed. The energy and pitch angle distributions are presented and shown to be generally in agreement with acceleration by a parallel electrostatic potential. Characteristics of secondary electrons are examined, and effects of beam plasma instabilities on these electrons are discussed. The properties of the monoenergetic component are compared with theoretical models of creating parallel DC electric fields, and found to favor the anomalous resistivity model. The article also discusses relations of inverted-V events with other auroral phenomena including auroras, electrostatic shocks, convective electric field reversals, field-aligned currents and wave emissions. The principal conclusions are: (1) plasma sheet electrons are continuously accelerated to form inverted-V structures in the pre-midnight hemisphere independent of substorm phase, (2) the acceleration processes are probably related to large scale electrostatic wave turbulence observed at altitudes of a few thousand kilometers, (3) narrow bursts of intense electron precipitation fluxes are found to be imbedded within some inverted-V's. It is argued that the narrow bursts of intense electron precipitation have the proper characteristics to cause discrete auroral arcs in the atmosphere. We suggest that these narrow bursts are accelerated by an electrostatic shock at higher altitude and capable of producing discrete auroral arcs below the observing satellite.     

Some problems of pulsar physics or I'm madly in love with electricity

Some current topics in the theory of pulsar magnetospheres and their emission are reviewed. The mode of plasma supply and its consequences for structure of planetary and stellar magnetospheres is discussed. In the pulsar case, the plasma is supplied by electrical forces, in contrast to all other known examples. The resulting theories of particle acceleration along polar field lines are then reviewed, and the total energization of the charge separated plasma is summarized, when pair creation is absent. The effects of pair creation are reviewed using models of the resulting steady and unsteady flows, when the polar zones of the pulsar emit either electrons or ions. The application of these theories of acceleration and plasma supply to pulsars is discussed, with particular attention paid to the total amount of electron-positron plasma created and its momentum distribution. Qualitative agreement is shown between the spatial structure of the relativistically outflowing plasma described in one version of these models and the morphology of pulsar wave forms. Various aspects of radiation emission and transport are summarized, based on the polar current flow model with pair creation, and the phenomenon of marching subpulses is discussed. The corotation beaming and the relativistically expanding current sheet models for pulsar emission are also discussed briefly, and the paper concludes with a brief discussion of the relation between the theories of polar flow with pair plasma and the problem of the energization of the Crab Nebula.Proceedings of the NASA/JPL Workshop on the Physics of Planetary and Astrophysical Magnetospheres.     

Steady magnetospheric convection: A review of recent results

Theoretical pressure balance arguments have implied that steady convection is hardly possible in the terrestrial magnetotail and that steady energy input necessarily generates a cyclic loading-unloading sequence, i.e., repetitive substorms. However, observations have revealed that enhanced solar wind energy input to the magnetospheric system may either lead to substorm activity or enhanced but steady convection. This topic is reviewed with emphasis on several recent case studies of the Steady Magnetospheric Convection (SMC) events. In these cases extensive data sets from both satellite and ground-based instruments from various magnetospheric and ionospheric regions were available.Accurate distinction of the spatial and temporal scales of the magnetospheric processes is vital for correct interpretation of the observations during SMC periods. We show that on the large scale, the magnetospheric configuration and plasma convection are stable during SMC events, but that both reveal considerable differences from their quiet-time assemblies. On a shorter time scale, there are numerous transient activations which are similar to those found during substorms, but which presumably originate from a more distant tail reconnection process, and map to the poleward boundary of the auroral oval. The available observations and the unresolved questions are summarized here.The tail magnetic field during SMC events resembles both substorm growth and recovery phases in the neartail and midtail, respectively, but this configuration may remain stable for up to ten hours. Based on observations and model results we discuss how the magnetospheric system avoids pressure balance problems when the plasma convects earthward.Finally, the importance of further coordinated studies of SMC events is emphasized. Such studies may shed more light on the substorm dynamics and help to verify quantitatively the theoretical models of the convecting magnetosphere.     

Electron precipitations and polar auroras

In the first part (Sections I–III) a brief historical review of the progress of our knowledge of the precipitation of auroral electrons is given. Observations by different techniques, in terms of detectors aboard balloons, sounding rockets, and polar-orbiting satellites, are reviewed (Sections I). The precipitation morphology is examined in terms of synoptic statistical results (Section II) and of latitudinal survey along individual satellite passes (Section III). In the second part (Section IV), a large number of simultaneous observations of auroras and precipitating auroral electrons by DMSP satellites are examined in detail, and it is shown that precipitation characteristics of auroral electrons are distinctly different for the discrete aurora and the diffuse aurora. In the third part (Section V), the source region of auroral electrons is discussed by comparing the auroral electron precipitation at low altitudes observed by DMSP satellites with the simultaneous ATS-6 observations near the magnetospheric equatorial plane approximately along the same geomagnetic field line. It is shown that the diffuse aurora is caused by direct dumping of the plasma sheet electrons from the equatorial region, whereas discrete auroras require acceleration of electrons between the plasma sheet and the polar atmosphere. The parallel electric field along the geomagnetic field line above the ionosphere is a likely candidate for the acceleration mechanism.Applied Physics Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, Maryland 20810, U.S.A.     

The Cold-Dense Plasma Sheet: A Geotail Perspective

GEOTAIL observations of the low-latitude boundary layer (LLBL) in the tail-flanks show that they are the region where the cold-dense plasma appears with stagnant flow signatures accompanied by bi-directional thermal electrons (< 300 eV). It is concluded from these facts that the tail-LLBL is the site of capturing the cold-dense plasma of the magnetosheath origin on to the closed field lines of the magnetosphere. There are also cases that strongly suggest that the cold-dense plasma entry from the flanks can be significant to fill a substantial part of the magnetotail. In such cases, the cold-dense plasma is not spatially restricted to a layer attached to the magnetopause (that is, the LLBL), but continues to well inside the magnetotail, constituting the cold-dense plasma sheet. Inspired by the fact that these remarkable cases are found for northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), a statistical study on the status of the near-Earth plasma sheet is made. The results show that the plasma sheet becomes significantly colder and denser when the northward IMF continues than during southward IMF periods, and that the cold-dense status appears most prominently near the dawn and dusk flanks. These are consistent with the idea that, during northward IMF periods, the supply of cold-dense ions to the near-Earth tail from the flanks dominates over the hot-tenuous ions transported from the distant tail.     

Overview of Nighttime Ionospheric Instabilities at Low- and Mid-Latitudes: Coupling Aspects Resulting in Structuring at the Mesoscale

We present a review of the current state of understanding regarding two classes of irregularities causing mesoscale structuring (hundreds of kilometers) in the nighttime ionosphere at low- and mid-latitudes. Additionally, current state of understanding of equatorial plasma bubbles at low latitudes, and medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances at mid latitudes and their relationship to possible seeding from lower altitudes are described. In each case, well-developed linear theories exist to explain the general properties of the irregularities. However, these linear theories have growth rates too low to explain the actual observations, giving rise to the need to invoke seeding mechanisms. We describe the observational databases that have been compiled over the decades and discuss possible coupling and seeding mechanisms that would overcome the low growth rate and explain the observed structuring at the mesoscale. Future research directions are also briefly discussed.     

Review of Pi2 Models

More than half a century after the discovery of Pi2 pulsations, Pi2 research is still vigorous and evolving. Especially in the last decade, new results have provided supporting evidence for some Pi2 models, challenged earlier interpretations, and led to entirely new models. We have gone beyond the inner magnetosphere and have explored the outer magnetosphere, where Pi2 pulsations have been observed in unexpected places. The new Pi2 models cover virtually all magnetotail regions and their coupling, from the reconnection site via the lobes and plasma sheet to the ionosphere. In addition to understanding the Pi2 phenomenon in itself, it has also been important to study Pi2 pulsations in their role as transient manifestations of the coupling between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. The transient Pi2 is an integral part of the substorm phenomenon, especially during substorm onset. Key questions about the workings of magnetospheric substorms are still awaiting answers, and research on Pi2 pulsations can help with those answers. Furthermore, the role of Pi2 pulsations in association with other dynamic magnetospheric modes has been explored in the last decade. Thus, the application of Pi2 research has expanded over the years, assuring that Pi2 research will remain active in this decade and beyond. Here we review recent advances, which have given us a new understanding of Pi2 pulsations generated at various places in the magnetosphere during different magnetospheric modes. We review seven Pi2 models found in the literature and show how they are supported by observations from spacecraft and ground observatories as well as numerical simulations. The models have different degrees of maturity; while some enjoy wide acceptance, others are still speculative.     

Plasmas in the earth's magnetotail

An overview of the general characteristics of plasmas within the Earth's magnetotail and its environs is presented. Present knowledge of the plasmas within these regions as gained via in situ measurements provides the general theme, although observations of magnetic fields, energetic particles and plasma waves are included in the discussion. Primary plasma regimes in the magnetotail are the plasma sheet, its boundary layer, the magnetotail lobes, the boundary layer at the magnetopause and the distant magnetotail. Although great progress in our understanding of these regions is evident in the literature of the past several years, many of their features remain as exciting enigmas to be resolved by future observational and theoretical investigation.     

Source Region of High and Low Speed Wind during the Spartan 201-05 Flight

The large-scale coronal magnetic fields of the Sun are believed to play an important role in organizing the coronal plasma and channeling the high and low speed solar wind along the open magnetic field lines of the polar coronal holes and the rapidly diverging field lines close to the current sheet regions, as has been observed by the instruments aboard the Ulysses spacecraft from March 1992 to March 1997. We have performed a study of this phenomena within the framework of a semi-empirical model of the coronal expansion and solar wind using Spartan, SOHO, and Ulysses observations during the quiescent phase of the solar cycle. Key to this understanding is the demonstration that the white light coronagraph data can be used to trace out the topology of the coronal magnetic field and then using the Ulysses data to fix the strength of the surface magnetic field of the Sun. As a consequence, it is possible to utilize this semi-empirical model with remote sensing observation of the shape and density of the solar corona and in situ data of magnetic field and mass flux to predict values of the solar wind at all latitudes through out the solar system. We have applied this technique to the observations of Spartan 201-05 on 1–2 November, 1998, SOHO and Ulysses during the rising phase of this solar cycle and speculate on what solar wind velocities Ulysses will observe during its polar passes over the south and the north poles during September of 2000 and 2001. In order to do this the model has been generalized to include multiple streamer belts and co-located current sheets. The model shows some interesting new results. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mission-oriented theory for ISTP

The goal of mission-oriented theory is to develop techniques and models which can be used by experimentalists and theorists to interpret spacecraft measurements, deducing from them the maximum amount of information about both local and large-scale dynamics. To be effective, theorists and experimentalists must express their results in a common format. A reasonable starting point is for mission theorists to adopt the format currently used by experimentalists. To this end we have developed new diagnostics for plasma kinetic simulations, which display the results in formats very similar to those commonly used to present satellite wave and particle measurements. We have used a simulation of broadband electrostatic noise to demonstrate how, by comparing simulation results with observations, we can infer quantities which cannot be measured, such as the wave mode. We are also developing the capability of creating data streams from virtual spacecraft located in the simulation region. For example, we used a kinetic magnetopause simulation to explore the ways in which simulations can assist in the interpretation of single and multiple satellite measurements in regions of strong spatial inhomogeneity. To address directly the mission objective of measuring global transport, global MHD models are employed. In order to facilitate the initial comparison with ISTP satellites, time histories of simulated generic states of the magnetosphere will be stored on optical disks; these will then be used to create dynamical displays of both local parameters and the global configuration. Finally we demonstrate the use of data based phenomenological magnetic field models in single particle trajectory calculations to describe large-scale kinetic properties of the magnetospheric plasma. We briefly discuss the success of large-scale kinetic calculations in delineating the structure of the plasma sheet, and present some possible ISTP research initiatives which can be used to determine the structure of the very distant tail and the entry of plasma into the tail.     

Observations and theory of cataclysmic variables: On progress and problems in understanding dwarf novae and nova-like stars

After brief historical and theoretical introductions to the field, observed properties of dwarf novae and non-magnetic nova-like stars are reviewed. Photometric observations splitted into events on time-scales of months to years (outburst light curves), hours (orbital light curves) and minutes and below (flickering and oscillations), respectively, and spectroscopic observations are presented. The emphasis is on one hand on the features common to many objects in an attempt to gain some impression on what could be considered typical features. On the other hand observations are highlighted that spectacularly deviate from these common trends as they may give some hint as to what the possible range of variability is. Whenever possible, the implications for the physical properties and possible models of the systems are pointed out. Furthermore, for each section the current status of the conceptual understanding and attempts to model this are briefly reviewed and, finally, confronted with the observations.     

Solar Fine-Scale Structures. I. Spicules and Other Small-Scale, Jet-Like Events at the Chromospheric Level: Observations and Physical Parameters

Over the last two decades the uninterrupted, high resolution observations of the Sun, from the excellent range of telescopes aboard many spacecraft complemented with observations from sophisticated ground-based telescopes have opened up a new world producing significantly more complete information on the physical conditions of the solar atmosphere than before. The interface between the lower solar atmosphere where energy is generated by subsurface convection and the corona comprises the chromosphere, which is dominated by jet-like, dynamic structures, called mottles when found in quiet regions, fibrils when found in active regions and spicules when observed at the solar limb. Recently, space observations with Hinode have led to the suggestion that there should exist two different types of spicules called Type?I and Type?II which have different properties. Ground-based observations in the Ca?ii H and K filtergrams reveal the existence of long, thin emission features called straws in observations close to the limb, and a class of short-lived events called rapid blue-shifted excursions characterized by large Doppler shifts that appear only in the blue wing of the Ca?ii infrared line. It has been suggested that the key to understanding how the solar plasma is accelerated and heated may well be found in the studies of these jet-like, dynamic events. However, while these structures are observed and studied for more than 130 years in the visible, but also in the UV and EUV emission lines and continua, there are still many questions to be answered. Thus, despite their importance and a multitude of observations performed and theoretical models proposed, questions regarding their origin, how they are formed, their physical parameters, their association with the underlying photospheric magnetic field, how they appear in the different spectral lines, and the interrelationship between structures observed in quiet and active regions on the disk and at the limb, as well as their role in global processes has not yet received definitive answers. In addition, how they affect the coronal heating and solar wind need to be further explored. In this review we present observations and physical properties of small-scale jet-like chromospheric events observed in active and quiet regions, on the disk and at the limb and discuss their interrelationship.     

The near-Earth plasma sheet: An AMPTE/IRM perspective

During the last five years, statistical studies using plasma measurements made by the AMPTE/IRM satellite have lead to a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of the near-Earth plasma sheet between about 10 and 20R _E. The most notable new findings are: (1) the adiabatic non-isentropic behavior of the tail plasma during quiet times; (2) the strong non-adiabatic heating of ions and electrons during substorms and the strong coupling of the ion and electron temperature withT _i/T_i7; and (3) the high-speed flow bursts which carry most of the tail plasma transport. Moreover, it became clear that it is the central plasma sheet, and not the plasma sheet boundary layer, which is most affected by substorm activity.     

Galactic Cosmic Rays in the Outer Heliosphere: Theory and Models

We review recent advances in the field of galactic cosmic ray transport in the distant heliosphere. The advent of global MHD models brought about a better understanding of the three-dimensional structure of the interface between the solar system and the surrounding interstellar space, and of the magnetic field topology in the outer heliosphere. These results stimulated a development of galactic cosmic ray transport models taking the advantage of the available detailed plasma backgrounds and of the new Voyager results from the heliosheath. It emerges that the heliosheath plays a prominent role in the process of modulation and filtration of low-energy galactic ions and electrons. The heliosheath stores particles for a duration of several years thus acting as a large reservoir of galactic cosmic rays. Cosmic-ray trajectories, transit times, and entry locations across the heliopause are discussed. When compared to observations model calculations of low energy electrons show almost no radial gradient up to the termination shock, irrespective of solar activity, but a large gradient in the inner heliosheath. Intensities are however sensitive to heliospheric conditions such as the location of the heliopause and shock. In contrast, high energy proton observations by both the Voyager spacecraft show a clear solar cycle dependence with intensities also increasing with increasing distance. By comparing these observations to model calculations we can establish whether our current understanding of long-term modulation result in computed intensities compatible to observations.     

Cosmic Rays in the Inner Heliosphere: Insights from Observations, Theory and Models

The global modulation of galactic cosmic rays in the inner heliosphere is determined by four major mechanisms: convection, diffusion, particle drifts (gradient, curvature and current sheet drifts), and adiabatic energy losses. When these processes combine to produce modulation, the complexity increases significantly especially when one wants to describe how they evolve spatially in all three dimensions throughout the heliosphere, and with time, as a function of solar activity over at least 22 years. In this context also the global structure and features of the solar wind, the heliospheric magnetic field, the wavy current sheet, and of the heliosphere and its interface with the interstellar medium, play important roles. Space missions have contributed significantly to our knowledge during the past decade. In the inner heliosphere, Ulysses and several other missions have contributed to establish the relative importance of these major mechanisms, leading to renewed interest in developing more sophisticated theories and numerical models to explain these observations, and to understand the underlying physics that determines galactic cosmic ray modulation at Earth. An overview is given of some of the observational and modeling highlights over the past decade.