Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006georl..3323106w&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 33, Issue 23, CiteID L23106
Physics
12
Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Sheet, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetotail Boundary Layers, Magnetospheric Physics: Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetotail
Scientific paper
The timescale for the formation of cold-dense plasma sheet ions was investigated with an event in which the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) was northward for almost one day. The plasma sheet dawn and dusk flanks appear to reach cold dense states (n > 1 cm-3 T < 2 keV) within a few hours after IMF northward turning. Closer to the center (midnight meridian), the ion temperatures reach < 2 keV within a few hours of IMF northward turning, but the ion densities do not reach above 1 cm-3 for at least ~8 hours after IMF northward turning. The connection between solar wind ions and plasma sheet cold-component ions is demonstrated. The plasma sheet dawn flank ions appear to lag the solar wind ions by about 3 hours. This study confirms the previous statistical results: (a) the densification of the plasma sheet can be attributed to the influx of the cold-component (magnetosheath/solar wind origin) ions; and (b) the cooling of the plasma sheet can be attributed not only to the influx of the solar wind ions, but also to the cooling of the hot components. Order of magnitude calculations of the plasma sheet filling rate from reconnection and diffusion suggest that both entry mechanisms could result in roughly comparable filling rates. Hence, the dawn-dusk asymmetries would be key in distinguishing the roles of the various proposed entry mechanisms.
Fujimoto Masaki
Johnson Jay Robert
Wing Simon
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