Abstract. On 7 December 2000, during 13:30–15:30 UT the MIRACLE all-sky camera at Ny Ålesund observed auroras at high-latitudes (MLAT ~ 76) simultaneously when the Cluster spacecraft were skimming the magnetopause in the same MLT sector (at ~ 16:00–18:00 MLT). The location of the auroras (near the ionospheric convection reversal boundary) and the clear correlation between their dynamics and IMF variations suggests their close relationship with R1 currents. Consequently, we can assume that the Cluster spacecraft were making observations in the magnetospheric region associated with the auroras, although exact magnetic conjugacy between the ground-based and satellite observations did not exist. The solar wind variations appeared to control both the behaviour of the auroras and the magnetopause dynamics. Auroral structures were observed at Ny Ålesund especially during periods of negative IMF BZ. In addition, the Cluster spacecraft experienced periodic (T ~ 4 - 6 min) encounters between magnetospheric and magnetosheath plasmas. These undulations of the boundary can be interpreted as a consequence of tailward propagating magnetopause surface waves. Simultaneous dusk sector ground-based observations show weak, but discernible magnetic pulsations (Pc 5) and occasionally periodic variations (T ~ 2 - 3 min) in the high-latitude auroras. In the dusk sector, Pc 5 activity was stronger and had characteristics that were consistent with a field line resonance type of activity. When IMF BZ stayed positive for a longer period, the auroras were dimmer and the spacecraft stayed at the outer edge of the magnetopause where they observed electromagnetic pulsations with T ~ 1 min. We find these observations interesting especially from the viewpoint of previously presented studies relating poleward-moving high-latitude auroras with pulsation activity and MHD waves propagating at the magnetospheric boundary layers.Key words. Ionosphere (ionosphere-magnetosphere interaction) – Magnetospheric physics (auroral phenomena; solar wind – magnetosphere interactions)
We extend the Lee (1982) self‐consistent theory of upstream wave excitation and particle energization to address observations by Voyager 2 of sunward propagating MHD waves and diffuse suprathermal particle populations upstream of the Jovian bow shock. Two new ideas are incorporated into the theory. First, the interplanetary seed wave population is taken to be an equal admixture of waves propagating both toward and away from the shock parallel to the interplanetary magnetic field. Second, finite connection times are incorporated approximately into the theory in an effort to understand whether the particle spectra at high energy are limited by particle escape or finite connection time. It is found that finite connection times dominate the particle distribution at energies above 40 keV. In this manner the suprathermal proton distributions can be accounted for by a multiple reflection, shock acceleration theory. We find that the theory can also account for the low‐frequency waves observed upstream of the shock in conjunction with the suprathermal ions.
Abstract We investigate the longitudinal structure of the oxygen torus in the inner magnetosphere for a specific event found on 12 September 2017, using simultaneous observations from the Van Allen Probe B and Arase satellites. It is found that Probe B observed a clear enhancement in the average plasma mass ( M ) up to 3–4 amu at L = 3.3–3.6 and magnetic local time (MLT) = 9.0 h. In the afternoon sector at MLT ~ 16.0 h, both Probe B and Arase found no clear enhancements in M . This result suggests that the oxygen torus does not extend over all MLT but is skewed toward the dawn. Since a similar result has been reported for another event of the oxygen torus in a previous study, a crescent-shaped torus or a pinched torus centered around dawn may be a general feature of the O + density enhancement in the inner magnetosphere. We newly find that an electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave in the H + band appeared coincidently with the oxygen torus. From the lower cutoff frequency of the EMIC wave, the ion composition of the oxygen torus is estimated to be 80.6% H + , 3.4% He + , and 16.0% O + . According to the linearized dispersion relation for EMIC waves, both He + and O + ions inhibit EMIC wave growth and the stabilizing effect is stronger for He + than O + . Therefore, when the H + fraction or M is constant, the denser O + ions are naturally accompanied by the more tenuous He + ions, resulting in a weaker stabilizing effect (i.e., larger growth rate). From the Probe B observations, we find that the growth rate becomes larger in the oxygen torus than in the adjacent regions in the plasma trough and the plasmasphere.
Abstract Poloidal ULF waves are capable of efficiently interacting with energetic particles in the ring current and the radiation belt. Using Van Allen Probes (Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP)) data from October 2012 to July 2014, we investigate the spatial distribution and storm time occurrence of Pc4 (7–25 mHz) poloidal waves in the inner magnetosphere. Pc4 poloidal waves are sorted into two categories: waves with and without significant magnetic compressional components. Two types of poloidal waves have comparable occurrence rates, both of which are much higher during geomagnetic storms. The noncompressional poloidal waves mostly occur in the late recovery phase associated with an increase of D s t toward 0, suggesting that the decay of the ring current provides their free energy source. The occurrence of dayside compressional Pc4 poloidal waves is found correlated with the variation of the solar wind dynamic pressure, indicating their origin in the solar wind. Both compressional and noncompressional waves preferentially occur on the dayside near noon at L ∼5–6. In addition, compressional poloidal waves are observed at magnetic local time 18–24 on the nightside. The location of the Pc4 poloidal waves relative to the plasmapause is investigated. The RBSP statistical results may shed light on the in‐depth investigations of the generation and propagation of Pc4 poloidal waves.
Magnetic field observations made during 28 October to 1 November 2003, which included two fast interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), allow a study of correlation lengths of magnetic field parameters for two types of interplanetary (IP) structures: ICMEs and ambient solar wind. Further, they permit the extension of such investigations to the magnetosheath and to a distance along the Sun‐Earth line ( X ) of about 400 R E . Data acquired by three spacecraft are examined: ACE, in orbit around the L1 point; Geotail, traveling eastward in the near‐Earth solar wind (at R ∼ 30 R E ); and Wind, nominally in the distant geomagnetic tail (R ∼ −160 R E ) but making repeated excursions into the magnetosheath/solar wind due to the flapping of the tail. Analyses are presented in both time and frequency domains. We find significant differences in the cross‐correlation/coherence properties of the ambient interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and ICME parameters. For the ambient IMF, we find high coherence to be confined to low frequencies, consistent with other studies. In contrast, ICME magnetic field parameters remain generally coherent up to much higher frequencies. Scale lengths of ICME magnetic field parameters are in excess of 400 R E . High speeds of ∼1700 km s −1 are inferred from the plot of phase difference versus frequency, consistent with that obtained from plasma instruments. To strengthen these results and to extend them to include dependence on the distance perpendicular to the Sun‐Earth line ( Y ), we examine a 28‐day interval in year 2001 characterized by a sequence of 10 ICMEs and containing roughly equal ambient solar wind and ICME time intervals. ACE‐Wind X and Y separations were ∼220 and ∼250 R E , respectively. We find good coherence/correlation alternating with poor values. In particular, we find that in general ICME coherence/correlation lengths along Y are larger by a factor of 3–5 than those quoted in the literature for ambient solar wind parameters. Our findings are good news for the space weather effort, which depends crucially on predicting the arrival of large events, since they make possible the placement of upstream monitors to give a longer lead time than at L1.
The fortuitous observations of a magnetic cloud during the ACE/Ulysses radial alignment in March 1998 provide one of the first opportunities to study the same magnetic cloud at two different radial distances. In this paper, we use data from both ACE and Ulysses to examine the expansion of the cloud as well as of the adjacent noncloud solar wind. In particular, we study the evolution of the electrons as the cloud expanded from 1 to 5.4 AU, including the core, halo, and total electron populations. We find that the core and total electron temperatures at either spacecraft are moderately anticorrelated with electron density. However, combined observations from the two spacecraft show that both temperature and density decreased as the cloud expanded and thus that single point measurements cannot be used to determine a polytropic index describing the expansion of solar wind electrons within the cloud.
We discuss the motion and structure of the magnetopause/boundary layer observed by Cluster in response to a joint tangential discontinuity/vortex sheet (TD/VS) observed by the Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft on 7 December 2000. The observations are then supplemented by theory. Sharp polarity reversals in the east‐west components of the field and flow B y and V y occurred at the discontinuity. These rotations were followed by a period of strongly northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). These two factors elicited a two‐stage response at the magnetopause, as observed by Cluster situated in the boundary layer at the duskside terminator. First, the magnetopause suffered a large deformation from its equilibrium position, with large‐amplitude oscillations of ∼3‐min period being set up. These are argued to be mainly the result of tangential stresses associated with Δ V y the contribution of dynamic pressure changes being small in comparison. This strengthens recent evidence of the importance to magnetospheric dynamics of changes in azimuthal solar wind flow. The TD/VS impact caused a global response seen by ground magnetometers in a magnetic local time range spanning at least 12 h. The response monitored on ground magnetometers is similar to that brought about by magnetopause motions driven by dynamic pressure changes. Second, Cluster recorded higher‐frequency waves (∼79 s). Two clear phases could be distinguished from the spectral power density, which decreased by a factor of ∼3 in the second phase. Applying compressible linearized MHD theory, we show that these waves are generated by the Kelvin‐Helmholtz (KH) instability. Varying the local magnetic shear at the Cluster locale, as suggested by the temporal profile of the IMF clock angle, we find that locally stability was reinstated, so that the reduced power in the second phase is argued to be due residual KH activity arriving from locations farther to the dayside.
Plasma and magnetic field observations from the Voyager 2 spacecraft when it was outbound from Neptune reveal low‐frequency waves in the solar wind which are clearly associated with the planet. The waves have frequencies below the proton cyclotron frequency f cp , which is about 10 −3 Hz during the periods waves are observed. The waves are present when the interplanetary magnetic field is oriented such that the spacecraft is connected to the bow shock by the magnetic field lines. We have identified the waves to be Alfvénic waves propagating at ∼140° to the ambient magnetic field and away from the bow shock. As at the other planets, these downstream waves are thought to be generated in the upstream region, where energetic protons created near the nose of the bow shock excite waves as they stream along solar wind magnetic field lines.
Pickup ions in a ring velocity distribution are unstable to several kinetic plasma instabilities. At large heliocentric distances where the overall plasma β (ratio of kinetic to magnetic energy) is dominated by the energy density of interstellar pickup ions and pickup is perpendicular to the interplanetary magnetic field, the dominant of these is the Alfvén ion cyclotron instability (AIC). We demonstrate by hybrid particle simulation that, for conditions where the solar wind β is low, AIC driven by the pickup ions couples to the solar wind. The result is perpendicular heating, leading to an anisotropic solar wind distribution. This process may contribute to enhanced solar wind temperatures at large heliocentric distances and may allow for indirect measurement of interstellar pickup ions.
