Physics
Scientific paper
Aug 1976
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1976jgr....81.3959h&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 81, Aug. 1, 1976, p. 3959-3965.
Physics
21
Auroral Arcs, Birkeland Currents, Current Sheets, Geomagnetism, Magnetic Field Configurations, Current Density, Electric Fields, Field Aligned Currents, Perturbation Theory, Shear Properties, Vortex Streets, Vorticity
Scientific paper
A theoretical analysis of the magnetic fields surrounding field-aligned current sheets confirms that stable spirallike distortions (or, in some cases, folds) should occur at the free end. It is demonstrated that a Birkeland current sheet is completely analogous to a fluid shear layer, with the magnetic field and the current playing the roles of fluid streamlines and of vorticity, respectively. The rotational sense of the distortions indicates the direction of current. Spirals observed in the aurora imply upward current in all cases where this mechanism applies. The calculated threshold current density for distortion of an auroral arc is 0.0000025 A/m.
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