Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufmsh42a..06s&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #SH42A-06
Physics
[2723] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetic Reconnection, [2740] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics, [2756] Magnetospheric Physics / Planetary Magnetospheres, [2788] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetic Storms And Substorms
Scientific paper
The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft entered orbit about Mercury on March 18, 2011. From orbit, MESSENGER has recorded magnetic field observations of strong magnetic reconnection at the dayside and nightside magnetopause. Flux transfer events (FTEs) are identified in the magnetic field measurements on the basis of their flux-rope structure and the traveling compression regions that they produce in the magnetosheath and magnetosphere, respectively. FTEs at Mercury are shown to be only ~ 2-3 s in duration with subsequent FTEs observed every 8 - 10 s. We use the term "FTE showers" to denote extended intervals of quasi-periodic FTE formation involving 100 or more events. Such FTE showers appear to be common at Mercury. The plasma density in the mantle region of the tail is observed to be greatly enhanced during FTE showers due to the injection of new magnetosheath plasma as fresh interplanetary flux tubes are incorporated into the tail. At Mercury, FTEs are major contributors to the magnetic flux transfer; with magnetic flux contents of ~ 0.25 MWb per event, ~ 16 events are sufficient to cycle all of the ~ 4 MWb of magnetic flux to the magnetotail. During a shower, 16 FTEs occur in ~ 128-160 s. A magnetic flux transfer rate of ~ 4 MW/144 s = 28 kV. Hence, MESSENGER's observations of FTE showers strongly supports a Dungey cycle time at Mercury of ~ 2 - 3 min and a dawn-to-dusk electric potential drop across the magnetosphere of ~ 30 kV.
Anderson Benjamin J.
Baker Daniel N.
Benna Marcus
Boardsen Scott A.
Imber S. M.
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