An overview by Pioneers observations of the distant geomagnetic tail

Details An overview by Pioneers observations of the distant geomagnetic tail An overview by Pioneers observations of the distant geomagnetic tail

Mar 1977

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1977ssrv...20..123v&link_type=abstract

Space Science Reviews, vol. 20, Mar. 1977, p. 123-143.

Physics

1

Geomagnetic Tail, Magnetic Measurement, Pioneer 7 Space Probe, Pioneer 8 Space Probe, Energy Spectra, Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, Magnetic Field Configurations, Plasma Diagnostics, Plasma Spectra, Solar Wind, Two Dimensional Models

Scientific paper

The Pioneer 7 and Pioneer 8 spacecraft provided the only direct observations of the geomagnetic tail at geocentric distances as large as 1000 and 500 earth radii, respectively. The presence of a low-density plasma flow in the region of the expected tail and the intermittent and short-duration character of the tail encounters suggested in the past a distant tail structure remarkably different from its near-earth and cislunar shape. However, the recent discovery of the plasma mantle allows one to interpret the Pioneer observations in terms of a distant tail that possibly still preserves most of its near-earth characteristics. In particular, the region of tail encounters and the magnitude and direction of the observed magnetic field might be consistent with a cylindrical tail with a modestly increased cross section. Neutral-sheet observations also appear to be consistent with the most recent two-dimensional tail models. Finally, as in the cislunar region, the double-peaked proton energy spectra can be interpreted in terms of a partial intermingling of plasma-sheet and plasma-mantle populations.

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