Controlling factors of Region 2 field-aligned current and its relationship to the ring current: Model results

One essential component of magnetosphere and ionosphere coupling is the closure of the ring current through Region 2 field-aligned current (FAC). Using the Comprehensive Ring Current Model (CRCM), which includes magnetosphere and ionosphere coupling by solving the kinetic equation of ring current particles and the closure of the electric currents between the two regions, we have investigated the effects of high latitude potential, ionospheric conductivity, plasma sheet density and different magnetic field models on the development of Region 2 field-aligned currents, and the relationship between R2 FACs and the ring current. It is shown that an increase in high latitude potential, ionospheric conductivity or plasma sheet density generally results in an increase in Region 2 FACs’ intensity, but R2 FACs display different local time and latitudinal distributions for changes in each parameter due to the different mechanisms involved. Our simulation results show that the magnetic field configuration of the inner magnetosphere is also an important factor in the development of Region 2 field-aligned current. More numerical experiments and observational results are needed in further our understanding of the complex relationship of the two current systems.     

Intense current structures during low geomagnetic activity and their relation to small-scale magnetic perturbations seen by the intercosmos Bulgaria-1300

This paper deals with the initial observational data on the field-aligned currents (FAC) and the small-scale transverse magnetic perturbations (SSTMD) in the cusp region obtained from the magnetometer on board the Intercosmos Bulgaria-1300 satellite. The magnetic field has been investigated by a high accuracy flux-gate magnetometer, IMAP, designed in the Central Laboratory for Space Research (CLSR), Sofia. For low geomagnetic activity 10 meridional passes (September–December 1981) have been examined. Intense FAC are observed in the noon sector of the summer auroral region. SSTMD are superimposed on a weak cusp current as a perturbation in the prenoon sector of the winter auroral region.     

地球磁层极尖区场向电子事件期间能量特性研究

根据Cluster卫星2001年9月30日在北半球极尖区观测到的一次强扰动场向电子事件数据,分析研究了这次事件期间场向电子的能量特性,讨论了场向电子对太阳风能量向磁层的传输和磁层-电离层耦合过程中能量传输的作用.分析认为,这次电子扰动事件期间电子速度和密度都具有很强的扰动变化,电子速度增加是一个主要特点.本次事件中低能段5~200eV和500~1500eV内的能谱分析结果表明,上行电子通量大于下行电子通量,上行电子主要来源于电离层,说明电离层上行电子在本次事件中具有非常活跃的作用.根据电离层中带电粒子的能量特征分析结果可知,这次事件中电离层起源的上行电子在上行过程中得到了加速.关于加速机制问题还有待深入研究.      

The importance of conductivity gradients in ground-based field-aligned current studies

Magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling is achieved primarily through magnetic field-aligned currents. Such currents are difficult to measure directly and are usually inferred from satellite magnetometer recordings or from ground-based measurements of the divergence of ionospheric electric fields. The latter technique requires a knowledge of the ionospheric conductance distribution. Although it is possible to obtain the ionospheric electric field distribution over large spatial areas with good temporal resolution from coherent backscatter radars, these instruments cannot measure conductivity. Since the equation for computing field-aligned currents explicitly requires the gradient in conductance to be known, the use of statistically averaged models is excluded for case studies. If a dense enough array of magnetometers is available, these data may be used in combination with radar data to produce a measured conductance distribution within the overlapping fields of view. This has been done for data obtained in northern Scandinavia. Comparing field-aligned currents, computed with and without knowing the ionospheric conductance distribution, shows that gradients in conductance can not be ignored, even for quiet geomagnetic conditions.     

Field-aligned currents and related phenomena in the cusp

This review deals with observations of field-aligned currents (FAC) based on measurements of magnetic and electrical fields, particle fluxes (0.2–15 keV) and plasma parameters, provided by the INTERCOSMOS BULGARIA-1300 satellite. Special attention is paid to the cusp sector (10–14 MLT). The current regions inferred from the satellite magnetometer are compared with the charecteristics of the dayside oval and the cusp derived from a variety of parameters. Our topics are as follows: penetration of region 1 in the cusp; FAC reversals and plasma convection; thermal plasma structure and collocation of FAC; Associations with the IMF components etc.     

Laboratory investigation of physical mechanisms of auroral charged particle acceleration in the field-aligned current layers

One of the major topics of space weather research is to understand auroral structure and the processes that guide, accelerate, and otherwise control particle precipitation and during substorms. The problem is that it is not clear the structure of the magnetic field-aligned electric fields and how they are supported in the magnetospheric plasma. The objective of this research is to study the physical mechanisms of these phenomena in a laboratory experiment. It should be achieved by simulating the charged particle acceleration due to field-aligned electrical field generation in all totality of the interconnected events: generation of a plasma flow, its evolution in the magnetic field, polarization of plasma, generation of the field-aligned currents, development of instabilities in the plasma and current layers, double layers or anomalous resistance regions appearance, electron acceleration. Parameters of the laboratory simulation and preliminary results of the experiment are discussed.     

Distribution and variability of accelerated electrons at Mars

We investigate accelerated electrons observed by Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), using data from the Electron Reflectometer (ER) instrument. We find three different types of accelerated electron events. Current sheet events occur over regions with weak or no crustal fields, have the highest electron energy fluxes, and are likely located on draped magnetotail fields. Extended events occur over regions with moderate crustal magnetic fields, and are most often observed on closed magnetic field lines. Localized events have the lowest energy fluxes, occur in strong magnetic cusp regions, and are the most likely kind of event to be found on open magnetic field lines. Some localized events have clear signatures of field-aligned currents; these events have much higher electron fluxes, and are preferentially observed on radially oriented open magnetic field lines. Electron acceleration events, especially localized events, are similar in many ways to events observed in the terrestrial auroral zone. However, physical processes related to those found in the terrestrial cusp and/or plasmasheet could also be responsible for accelerating electrons at Mars.     

The solar wind control of the equatorial ionosphere dynamics during geomagnetic storms

The interplanetary magnetic field, geomagnetic variations, virtual ionosphere height h′F, and the critical frequency foF2 data during the geomagnetic storms are studied to demonstrate relationships between these phenomena. We study 5-min ionospheric variations using the first Western Pacific Ionosphere Campaign (1998–1999) observations, 5-min interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and 5-min auroral electrojets data during a moderate geomagnetic storm. These data allowed us to demonstrate that the auroral and the equatorial ionospheric phenomena are developed practically simultaneously. Hourly average of the ionospheric foF2 and h′F variations at near equatorial stations during a similar storm show the same behavior. We suppose this is due to interaction between electric fields of the auroral and the equatorial ionosphere during geomagnetic storms. It is shown that the low-latitude ionosphere dynamics during these moderate storms was defined by the southward direction of the B_z-component of the interplanetary magnetic field. A southward IMF produces the Region I and Region II field-aligned currents (FAC) and polar electrojet current systems. We assume that the short-term ionospheric variations during geomagnetic storms can be explained mainly by the electric field of the FAC. The electric fields of the field-aligned currents can penetrate throughout the mid-latitude ionosphere to the equator and may serve as a coupling agent between the auroral and the equatorial ionosphere.     

Remote sensing of the ring current using energetic neutral atoms

Energetic neutral atom (ENA) images of the storm-time ring current obtained from the ISEE-1 spacecraft provide information for a “zero-order” global model of the energetic ion distribution. With the assumption of isotropic pressure and magnetostatic, non-convective pressure balance, the global system of electrical currents driven by the ion pressure can be calculated using Euler potentials for the divergenceless current density. Radial pressure gradients drive azimuthal currents, and azimuthal pressure gradients drive radial currents. The radial currents cause current lines in the inner magnetosphere to close in the ionosphere, forming a “partial” ring current. The intensities and locations of these field-aligned currents driven into and out of the ionosphere resemble those of the observed Region 2 current system, but not all observed properties of the Region 2 system are reproduced by the “zero-order” model.     

Imprints of small-scale nonadiabatic particle dynamics on large-scale properties of dynamical magnetotail equilibria

We extend our large-scale kinetic (LSK) simulation of the magnetotail by including the global electrostatic effects generated by the field-aligned motion of electrons. Differences in electron and ion dynamics result in significant electrostatic fields near the current sheet (especially near X-lines) and in the auroral zone. In addition, E_ƒ and E alter the ion precipitation profile and affect particle loss from the system through the flanks and downtail. This work provides a basis for including transverse electron currents in our calculations.     

用场向电流的观测结果研究高纬电离层电场

本文从Triad卫星观测到的场向电流日变化的统计结果出发, 利用场向电流日变化的付里叶级数展开和简单模式法分别求出电导率均匀时和极光带电导率增强时高纬电离层电位的分析解.结果表明, 电场集中在极光区是由2区场向电流引起的.在本文所用的场向电流分布形式下, 加上Pederson电导率的升高。极光区Hall电导率的增大反而有助于电场向中纬穿透.|AL|≥100γ时, 场向电流分布对对流圈位置西向旋转起一定作用, 但极光带Hall电导率的变化是造成大角度旋转的主要原因.Perdson电导率的增大, 对旋转角无影响.结果还表明, 在不考虑电导率日夜不均匀时, 由于场向电流复杂的日变化, 也可出现对流圈的晨昏不对称性.以上的电场分布形态, 与观测的电场形态基本相符。      

磁尾瓣区的场向电流

本文利用ISEE-2卫星的磁场和粒子资料(电子:75keVδ<1300keV,质子:170keVp<400keV),发现在磁尾远离等离子片的尾瓣区,常常同时探测到粒子脉冲和横向磁场扰动,表明有场向电流片存在。电流片的积分强度在3.3—21mA/m之间,与Frank等在磁尾等离子片边界上测量到的场向片电流积分强度可相比较。电流片总是成双成对,电流片的强度与AE指数或亚暴的关系密切。和磁层其他区域不同,在磁尾瓣区,经常探测到△B_x和△B_y同时存在,且△B_x和△B_y可相比拟的情形,它们可以用运动的线电流或不均匀密度的电流片来解释。      

Electric potential structures of auroral acceleration region border from multi-spacecraft Cluster data

This paper studies an auroral event using data from three spacecraft of the Cluster mission, one inside and two at the poleward edge of the bottom of the Auroral Acceleration Region (AAR). The study reveals the three-dimensional profile of the region’s poleward boundary, showing spatial segmentation of the electric potential structures and their decay in time. It also depicts localized magnetic field variations and field-aligned currents that appear to have remained stable for at least 80?s. Such observations became possible due to the fortuitous motion of the three spacecraft nearly parallel to each other and tangential to the AAR edge, so that the differences and variations can be seen when the spacecraft enter and exit the segmentations, hence revealing their position with respect to the AAR.     

On high-altitude electric fields in the auroral downward current region and their coupling to ionospheric electric fields

The downward field-aligned current region plays an active role in magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling processes associated with aurora. A quasi-static electric field structure with a downward parallel electric field forms at altitudes between 800 km and 5000 km, accelerating ionospheric electrons upward, away from the auroral ionosphere. Other phenomena including energetic ion conics, electron solitary waves, low-frequency wave activity, and plasma density cavities occur in this region, which also acts as a source region for VLF saucers. Results are presented from high-altitude Cluster observations with particular emphasis on the characteristics and dynamics of quasi-static electric field structures. These, extending up to altitudes of at least 4–5 Earth radii, appear commonly as monopolar or bipolar electric fields. The former occur at sharp boundaries, such as the polar cap boundary whereas the bipolar fields occur at softer boundaries within the plasma sheet. The temporal evolution of quasi-static electric field structures, as captured by the pearls-on-a-string configuration of the Cluster spacecraft, indicates that the formation of electric field structures and of ionospheric plasma density cavities are closely coupled processes. A related feature of the downward current is a broadening of the current sheet with time, possibly related to the depletion process. Preliminary studies of the coupling of electric fields in the downward current region, show that small-scale structures are typically decoupled from the ionosphere, similar to what has been found for the upward current region. However, exceptions are also found where small-scale electric fields couple perfectly between the ionosphere and Cluster altitudes. Recent FAST results indicate that the degree of coupling differs between sheet-like and curved structures, and that it is typically partial. The electric field coupling further depends on the current–voltage relationship, which is highly non-linear in the downward current region, and still unrevealed, as to its specific form.     

磁扰日向阳面对流电场转向区位置的晨昏不对称性(STARE、TRIAD、AE-C观测综合分析)

本文通过STARE观测的晨不连续性及其与TRIAD观测的场向电流分界区、AE-C卫星观测的电场转向区位置的比较,提出了在高扰日向阳面对流电场转向区位置存在着晨不对称性——晨半面所处纬度低于昏半面.该现象间接说明向阳面磁层边界层也存在某种不对称性.并在观测基础上对可造成该不对称性的物理因子进行了探讨,认为行星际磁场螺线结构对重连区位置的影响及其产生的激波结构的晨昏不对称性很可能与本文中讨论的现象有一定联系.      

电导率分布、对流电场转向区与场向电流形态(模式分析)

本文利用一些简单模式讨论对流转向区形态、电离层电导率的分布变化对场向电流形态的影响。结果表明,一区场向电流是最基本的,与对流转向区直接相联。二区场向电流的产生不仅与对流电场的屏蔽相联,也与电导率变化有关。电导率的变化还可产生一区电流高纬侧的零区电流和二区电流低纬侧的反向电流。此外,剪切转向区和旋转转向区所对应的场向电流分布也有所不同。本文结果有助于理解观测的场向电流之复杂形态,也可以解释同样的行星际磁场状况下,场向电流的不同变化。      

Statistical study of inverted-V events: A comparison between experiment and theory

We present a detailed study of the distribution and of the internal structure of the inverted-V electron precipitation commonly detected in the 500 – 2000 km altitude range aboard the AUREOL-3 satellite. These structured precipitations are statistically observed inside the auroral oval with a maximum occurence in the nightside sector. They correspond to primary electron fluxes peaked at energies generally below 10 keV. It is shown that, as predicted by kinetic theories, most inverted-V structures present a clear relationship between the field-aligned current density carried by the 1 – 20 keV primary electrons and the potential drop inferred from particle distribution functions. Furthermore the study demonstrates the existence of strong electron heating, related to the energy gain, when the current density exceeds some threshold of about 1 – 5 μA(m)^?2.     

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.     

Auroral structures at Jupiter and Earth

This paper compares global structures of the aurora observed at Jupiter and Earth and our understanding of the mechanisms that produce these structures. Both planets have permanent, magnetically conjugate auroral ovals, although produced by quite different mechanisms. Both are multispectral, having been observed at X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radio wavelengths. The brightest structures are produced by downward accelerated electron fluxes associated with upward Birkeland (magnetic-field-aligned) currents. At both planets, the auroral forms are time variable, especially at highest latitudes. The main power source for auroral emissions is planetary rotation at Jupiter, and the solar wind interaction at Earth. Thus Jupiter's auroral structures tend to be fixed with respect to magnetic (System III) longitude while Earth's are fixed with respect to local time. Earth's auroral structure is strongly dependent on the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). At Jupiter, no IMF dependence is known, but observations have not been sufficient to show such a dependence if it exists. A unique feature of Jupiter's auroral structure, with no counterpart at Earth, is the signature of the large (Galilean) satellites and, in the case of Io, even the corotational wake of the satellite.     

Ionospheric and field-aligned current systems in the auroral zone: a concise review

During the last few years our knowledge about the real three-dimensional current flow in the auroral zone has been significantly increased due to new improved measurements, especially those made by ground-based magnetometer networks, coherent and incoherent auroral radars, sounding rockets and low-altitude satellites. Combination of two or even more of those data sets (e.g. electron densities and electric and magnetic fields) allowed for a rather accurate determination of the distribution of Hall, Pedersen and Birkeland currents in the auroral zone. In this review an attempt is made to summarize the present knowledge about the distribution of conductivity, electric field and current flow in the auroral zone as well for the large-scale electrojet systems as for the comparatively smaller current systems associated with quiet and active aurora, i.e. discrete arcs, auroral break-ups, westward travelling surges and omega bands.