Double Layers and Electron Phase-Space Holes on Auroral Field Lines

Details Double Layers and Electron Phase-Space Holes on Auroral Field Lines Double Layers and Electron Phase-Space Holes on Auroral Field Lines

Dec 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufmsm11c..01e&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #SM11C-01

Physics

Plasma Physics

[2712] Magnetospheric Physics / Electric Fields, [4455] Nonlinear Geophysics / Nonlinear Waves, Shock Waves, Solitons, [7815] Space Plasma Physics / Electrostatic Structures, [7852] Space Plasma Physics / Solitons And Solitary Waves

Scientific paper

Both FAST and THEMIS satellites have made direct observations of double layers and electron phase-space holes in the auroral zone and in the central plasma sheet of the Earth's magnetosphere. Double layers and electron phase-space holes in the low-altitude aurora have been observed in the upward current region, the downward current region, and in association with Alfvén waves. In the central plasma sheet, double layers and electron phase-space holes are observed during bursty bulk flow events, in the current sheet, and plasma sheet boundary layer, all during periods of strong magnetic fluctuations. Double layers are very rarely observed in space and are often are accompanied by electron phase space holes. The only exception is in the upward current region of the low-altitude aurora. There, the double layers are seen with ion cyclotron turbulence and ion phase-space holes. On the other hand, electron phase-space holes are frequently observed. Kinetic simulations have shown that electron phase-space holes can be generated by double layers or a Buneman-unstable current. These observations and simulations imply that strongly nonlinear and kinetic behavior is intrinsic to the magnetic field lines that connect to the Earth's aurora. I discuss the possibility that parallel electric fields may be important in de-tangling magnetic field lines after reconnection and be responsible for subsequent rapidly progressing the turbulent cascade of Alfvén waves.

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