Localized density enhancements in the magnetosheath: Three-dimensional morphology and possible importance for impulsive penetration

Details Localized density enhancements in the magnetosheath: Three-dimensional morphology and possible importance for impulsive penetration Localized density enhancements in the magnetosheath: Three-dimensional morphology and possible importance for impulsive penetration

Mar 2012

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012jgra..11703227k&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 117, Issue A3, CiteID A03227

Physics

Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetopause And Boundary Layers, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosheath, Magnetospheric Physics: Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions

Scientific paper

We use Cluster multipoint density measurements, using the spacecraft potential, to identify localized density enhancements (>50%) in the magnetosheath, and estimate their three-dimensional morphology and orientation. Typically one dimension of the density enhancements is shorter than others, is directed perpendicular to the background magnetic field, and varies from ∼0.1 RE to 10 RE, with the other two dimensions a factor 3–10 greater. The density structures are oriented with the longest sides in the general direction of the bow shock and magnetopause. Examples of density structures both convecting with the same velocity as the background magnetosheath flow (“embedded plasmoids”), and convecting with an excess xGSE velocity component (“fast plasmoids”) are found. Possible importance for the impulsive penetration mechanism for plasma entry in the magnetosphere is analyzed by comparing the results to laboratory results, via a parameter scaling. The estimation of the three-dimensional topology of the density enhancements will enable a comparison with localized magnetosheath populations inside the magnetosphere, observed earlier, to determine if these originate from penetrated magnetosheath density enhancements.

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