Rayleigh-Taylor type instability in auroral patches

Physics

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Magnetospheric Physics: Auroral Phenomena (2407), Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics, Magnetospheric Physics: Mhd Waves And Instabilities (2149, 6050, 7836), Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Waves And Instabilities (2471), Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Sheet

Scientific paper

Based on observations by a high-resolution narrow field-of-view CCD camera, we found small-scale (5-25 km) finger-like structures at the western boundary of auroral patches in images obtained at Gillam (geomagnetic latitude: 65.5°N), Canada, in January 2008. Since shear motion was not observed along the boundary of the patches, we suggest that these structures are formed by macroscopic Rayleigh-Taylor type plasma instability arising in the magnetospheric equatorial plane from the force balancing of the (eastward) magnetic tension force and the (westward) pressure gradient force.

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