The Jovian magnetotail

This paper will review the present state of knowledge of plasma, magnetic field and plasma wave characteristics of the Jovian magnetotail, near Jupiter and to distances as great as 9,000 Jupiter radii, and from both the large and small scale perspectives. Our knowledge of Jupiter's tail, especially the distant tail, comes primarily from data from five experiments onboard Voyager 2, some of which will be presented. The Jovian tail has many unusual properties, such as the large scale sausage-string shape of its outer boundary, but shares some important properties with earth's magnetotail, such as a central current sheet and a surrounding region resembling a plasma sheet consisting of hot ions (E > 28 keV). This new interpretation of the existence of a “plasma sheet” clears up the dilemma of the so-called core regions, which we will discuss. There is a significant flow of plasma of solar wind origin in the distant tail lobes having (tailward) speeds and densities suggestive of boundary layer plasma. We will discuss tail size, estimated magnetic flux content, degree of field helicity, magnetic turbulence (in near vs. far tail regions), and evidence for the tearing away of the tail (probably by field reconnection) at the time of an interplanetary magnetic sector boundary passage.     

Particle dynamics of the plasma sheet boundary layer

The plasma sheet boundary layer dynamics during substorms are analyzed using ISEE 1 and 2 energetic particle flux data. Considering the plasma sheet boundary layer as a tangential discontinuity and thus its movements as perpendicular to the local magnetic field direction, the differential timing of the two spacecraft data sets is used to calculate the boundary layer velocity and thickness. The velocity values are deduced to be of the order of 40 km/s and boundary thickness varies from a few tens of km to more than 4 R_E with an average value of ∼5000 km. For a majority of the boundaries studied the boundary layer appears simultaneously in all energy channels; within it significant spectral variations are observed and the spectrum is harder at plasma sheet recovery. The experimental data are discussed in the framework of the actual plasma sheet thinning models.     

Inconsistency of magnetic field and plasma velocity variations in the distant plasma sheet: Violation of the “frozen-in” criterion?

Measurements of the magnetic field and low energy plasma by the GEOTAIL spacecraft have been used to study the relationship between variations of the plasma velocity and of the magnetic field in the distant (100–200 R_E) and middle (40–80 R_E) tail. The analysis was carried out separately for the tail lobes and the plasma sheet. It is shown that the absolute values of the magnetic field and plasma velocity, as well as their corresponding components (V_X and B_X, V_Y and B_Y, V_Z and B_Z), are linearly connected in the tail lobes. In the plasma sheet, however, the plasma velocity and the magnetic field do not seem to be related to one another. The distant plasma sheet seems to be in a regime of turbulence. The diffusion coefficients estimated from our data set of the velocity parameters in the plasma sheet are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions of Antonova and Ovchinnikov (1996, 1999).     

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.     

ISEE-1 and 2 observations of field-aligned currents in the distant midnight magnetosphere

Magnetic field measurements obtained in the nightside magnetosphere by the co-orbiting ISEE-1 and 2 spacecraft have been examined for signatures of field-aligned currents (FAC). Such currents are found on the boundary of the plasma sheet both when the plasma sheet is expanding and when it is thinning. Plasma sheet boundary layer current structure and substorm associated dynamics can be determined using the two spacecraft, although for slow traversals of the FAC sheet the spatial/temporal ambiguity is still an issue. We often find evidence for the existence of waves on the plasma sheet boundary, leading to multiple crossings of the FAC sheet. At times the boundary layer FAC sheet orientation is nearly parallel to the X-Z GSM plane, suggesting ‘protrusions’ of plasma sheet into the lobes. The boundary layer current polarity is, as expected, into the ionosphere in the midnight to dawn local time sector, and outward near dusk. Current sheet thicknesses and velocities are essentially independent of plasma sheet expansion or thinning, having typical values of 1500 km and 20–40 km/s respectively. Characteristic boundary layer current densities are about 10 nanoamps per square meter.     

磁层亚暴恢复期间等离子片边界层区的Kelvin—Helmholtz不稳定性

本文根据两个理想的磁流体力学模型研究了磁层亚暴恢复期间等离子体片边界层区的Kelvin-Helmholtz不稳定性。一个模型由三个均匀的等离子体区组成--北尾瓣、等离子体片和南尾瓣。在此模型里,不稳定模式在北(或南)尾瓣和等离子体片之间的边界面上激发。另一个模型由五个均匀的等离子体区组成--北尾瓣、等离子体片北边界层、等离子体片中间层、等离子体片南边界层和南尾瓣,在等离子体片边界层区存在着两种不稳定模式,一种在等离子体片的北(或南)边界层和中间层之间的边界表面上激发(模式Ⅰ);另一种在等离子体片北(或南)边界层和北(或南)尾瓣之间的边界面上激发(模式Ⅱ).模式Ⅰ多数时间是不稳定的。这些不稳定模式可能引起卫星观测到的等离子体边界层的一些特征。      

Substorms in the inner plasma sheet

Thin Current Sheets (TCS) are regularly formed prior to substorm breakup, even in the near-Earth plasma sheet, as close as the geostationary orbit. A self-consistent kinetic theory describing the response of the plasma sheet to an electromagnetic perturbation is given. This perturbation corresponds to an external forcing, for instance caused by the solar wind (not an internal instability). The equilibrium of the configuration of this TCS in the presence of a time varying perturbation is shown to produce a strong parallel thermal anisotropy (T T) of energetic electrons and ions (E>50keV) as well as an enhanced diamagnetic current carried by low energy ions (E<50keV). Both currents tend to enhance the confinement of this current sheet near the magnetic equator. These results are compared with data gathered by GEOS-2 at the geostationary orbit, where the magnetic signatures of TCS, and parallel anisotropics are regularly observed prior to breakup. By ensuring quasi-neutrality everywhere we find, when low frequency electromagnetic perturbations are applied, that although the magnetic field line remains an equipotential to the lowest order in T_e/T_i, a field-aligned potential drop exists to the next order in (T_e/T_i). Thus the development of a TCS implies the formation of a field-aligned potential drop ( few hundred volts) to ensure the quasi-neutrality everywhere. For an earthward directed pressure gradient, a field-aligned electric field, directed towards the ionosphere, is obtained, on the western edge of the perturbation (i.e. western edge of the current sheet). Thus field aligned beams of electrons are expected to flow towards the equatorial region on the western edge of the current sheet. We study the stability of these electron beams and show that they are unstable to “High Frequency” (HF) waves. These “HF” waves are regularly observed at frequencies of the order of the proton gyrofrequency (f_H+) just before, or at breakup. The amplitude of these HF waves is so large that they can produce a strong pitch-angle diffusion of energetic ions and a spatial diffusion that leads to a reduction of the diamagnetic current. The signature of a fast ion diffusion is indeed regularly observed during the early breakup; it coincides with the sudden development of large amplitude transient fluctuations, ballooning modes, observed at much lower frequencies (fH+). These results suggest that the HF waves, generated by field-aligned electron beams, provide the dissipation which is necessary to destabilize low frequency (ballooning) modes.     

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).     

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.     

Broadband electrostatic noise and low-frequency waves in the Earth’s magnetosphere

Broadband electrostatic noise (BEN) is commonly observed in different regions of the Earth’s magnetosphere, eg., auroral region, plasma sheet boundary layer, etc. The frequency of these BENs lies in the range from lower hybrid to the local electron plasma frequency and sometimes even higher. Spacecraft observations suggest that the high and low-frequency parts of BEN appear to be two different wave modes. There is a well established theory for the high-frequency part which can be explained by electrostatic solitary waves, however, low-frequency part is yet to be fully understood. The linear theory of low-frequency waves is developed in a four-component magnetized plasma consisting of three types of electrons, namely cold background electron, warm electrons, warm electron beam and ions. The electrostatic dispersion relation is solved, both analytically and numerically. For the parameters relevant to the auroral region, our analysis predict excitation of electron acoustic waves in the frequency range of 17 Hz to 2.6 kHz with transverse wavelengths in range of (1–70) km. The results from this model may be applied to explain some features of the low-frequency part of the broadband electrostatic noise observed in other regions of the magnetosphere.     

Two dimensional simulation of amplitude modulated electron plasma waves

Highly modulated waves near electron plasma frequency with both parallel and perpendicular polarization have been observed near diffusion region at dayside and in the tail region. In this paper, two dimensional Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulation was performed to study the possible generation mechanism of these modulated electron plasma waves. It is shown that weak beam instability could generate the modulated Langmuir wave and the ambient magnetic field plays an important role in the formation of modulation. When the weak beam has loss cone distribution, highly modulated upper hybrid waves are generated and propagate with large angle to the ambient magnetic field. The properties of these modulated waves are discussed and compared with observations.     

Driven reconnection in the near-Earth plasma sheet

In some recent MHD simulations of the near-Earth plasma sheet we studied onset and evolution of reconnection due to non-linear resistive instabilities. In our present contribution we show that these non-linear instabilities can be amplified significantly by inflow through the plasma sheet boundary and we discuss the consequences of that driving mechanism on the global dynamics of the instabilities. For high magnetic Reynolds numbers we find thin current sheets developing.     

等离子体彗尾动力学的数值研究

本文基于可压缩磁流体动力学模型,数值研究了尾瓣巾具有超Alfven速流动的等离子体彗尾的动力学特征。结果表明,等离子体片和尾瓣之间的剪切等离子体流动将会激发流动撕裂模不稳定性,引起彗尾等离子体片中发生磁场重联,形成磁岛和高密度的等离子体团。进而模拟了太阳风引起的局部驱动力对等离子体彗尾中磁场重联的影响,其特征时间远大于流动撕裂模。我们认为一些观测到的等离子体彗尾中的四块和彗尾截断事件可能主要与彗尾中剪切等离子体流动所引起的流动撕裂模不稳定性有关。      

Acceleration of low-energy magnetospheric plasma

Low-energy plasma originates in the ionosphere and is accelerated and transported to the plasma sheet and ultimately to the ring current. Using observations and basic MHD concepts, it is argued that the acceleration results basically from entrainment in flows that are rapid compared with initial ion thermal speeds. Spatial or temporal variations of such flows launch impulsive waves of the appropriate variety (acoustic, shear Alfven, or magnetosonic) to effect readjustment to the imposed boundary conditions. The most violent transient events are the earthward inductive surges of plasma in the inner plasma sheet, which launch magnetosonic waves. A number of observations strongly suggest that the induction surge waves break as they reach the inner plasma sheet or outer plasmasphere, forming transient shock waves and dissipating their energy in turbulent flows, plasma heating, and acceleration of energetic particles, forming the substorm injection boundary. Preliminary work indicates that the magnetosphere is typically configured so as to produce wave breaking near synchronous orbit, and has other interesting optical properties for MHD wave propagation as well. Exploration of magnetospheric plasma wave optics will require a better empirical knowledge of the plasma distribution.     

Generation of kinetic Alfvén waves by velocity shear instability on auroral field lines

Ion beams observed in the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL), cusp, and on the auroral zone field lines are expected to have spatial gradients in their drift velocity. Generation of kinetic Alfvén waves by velocity shear of the ion beams is discussed. It is shown that a hot ion beam can excite both a resonant kinetic Alfvén wave instability and a non-resonant coupled Alfvén-ion acoustic instability. For typical parameters, observed on the auroral field lines in the altitude range of 5–7 R_E (where R_E is the Earth’s radius), the frequency of the velocity shear modes, in the satellite frame of reference, lie in the ultra-low frequency (ULF) range. The noise due to velocity shear driven Alfvén modes is electromagnetic in nature, and has a finite parallel electric field component.     

Ion-acoustic waves in unmagnetized collisionless weakly relativistic plasma of warm-ion and isothermal-electron using time-fractional KdV equation

Collisionless unmagnetized plasma consisting of a mixture of warm ion-fluid and isothermal-electron is considered, assuming that the ion flow velocity has a weak relativistic effect. The reductive perturbation method has been employed to derive the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation for small – but finite-amplitude electrostatic ion-acoustic waves in this plasma. The semi-inverse method and Agrawal’s method lead to the Euler–Lagrange equation that leads to the time fractional KdV equation. The variational-iteration method given by He is used to solve the derived time fractional KdV equation. The calculations show that the fractional order may play the same rule of higher order dissipation in KdV equation to modulate the soliton wave amplitude in the plasma system. The results of the present investigation may be applicable to some plasma environments, such as space-plasmas, laser-plasma interaction, plasma sheet boundary layer of the earth’s magnetosphere, solar atmosphere and interplanetary space.     

磁尾的平衡结构

考虑到等离子体片和等离子体幔的存在,我们从Vlasov方程出发得出一个自洽的二维磁尾平衡模式。在这个模式中,假设等离子体处于平衡状态,压强是各向同性的,还假设沿磁尾方向各种参数的变化率较垂直于等离子体片方向的变化率要小得多。晨昏方向的变化则完全忽略不计。这个模式体现出磁尾的一些主要结构要素:(ⅰ)高温等离子体组成的等离子片;(ⅱ)等离子体片中的闭合磁力线;(ⅲ)等离子体极其稀薄的磁尾瓣;(ⅳ)等离子体幔;(ⅴ)磁层顶;(ⅵ)张开的磁尾。讨论了等离子体幔的存在对磁尾平衡结构的影响,结论是等离子体幔的存在使磁尾的形状更趋于尾形,于是,至少部分克服了Birn模式的困难。      

Current fluctuations in the Earth''s magnetosphere caused by lower-hybrid-drift turbulence

Nonlinear calculations of the anomalous electrical conductivity in the plasma of the earth's plasma mantle, the tail plasma sheet boundary layer and the ionospheric F-region density-trough are presented provided that lower-hybrid-drift turbulence exists. It is shown that in these regions the stabilization of the wave growth is mainly caused by current relaxation. Further, the fluctuations of the electrical currents are estimated via Ampère's and Ohm's laws. It is found that the lower-hybrid-drift turbulence causes maximum anomalous collision frequencies of the order of 10⁻² Hz in the magnetosphere. The maximum current fluctuations are about 3 10⁻⁹ A/m². The theoretical results are in agreement with ISEE and Prognoz-8 measurements.     

Magnetopause poleward of the cusp: Comparison of plasma and magnetic signature of the boundary for southward and northward directed interplanetary magnetic field

A coherent data set of high-latitude dayside magnetopause encounters by old (Heos 2, Hawkeye, Prognoz 7, 8) and new (Polar, Interball Tail, Cluster) spacecraft is needed to build a realistic model of the magnetopause (MP) including an indentation in the cusp. In building such a coherent data set a caution is necessary as the dayside magnetopause at high-latitudes may be less clearly defined than in the case of observations at low latitudes. It is due to expected presence of bundles of newly-reconnected magnetic field lines forming an extended boundary layer on the magnetosheath (MS) side of the magnetopause in the cusp region. Moreover, numerical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models of the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction predict that under northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) an additional thin current sheet should form inside the magnetopause at high latitudes on the dayside (e.g., Wu, 1983; Palmroth et al., 2001). Such a thin currect sheet is absent in empirical magnetosphere models. This internal current sheet, if a real one, may be mistaken for the magnetopause if magnetic field data are only taken into account and/or plasma data are unavailable. The Interball-Tail orbit allows for a full transition of magnetopause boundary layers at high-latitudes. We compare plasma and magnetic field signatures of the magnetopause poleward of the cusp for southward and northward IMF. The distance between the magnetic signature of the magnetopause (the current layer) and a cold and laminarly antisunward flowing MS plasma (so called free-flow MS) was found to be 0.5 to 1 R_E, at least. These observations were made under nominal solar wind of v350 km/s and p_dyn=1 to 4 nPa. We also observed several transient magnetic field reversals in the cusp related to pulses of solar wind dynamic pressure and/or the IMF discontinuity arrival. These transient reversals occurred at the same distance to the model MP as well defined full MP crossing, so most probably they represent just short encounters with the magnetopause current layer. Our analysis suggests that an indentation of the magnetopause with a subtle structure dependent on the local magnetic shear would explain and allow to predict the magnetic configuration in the high-altitude cusp.     

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.