A new model for auroral breakup during substorms

Computer Science – Sound

Scientific paper

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Atmospheric Models, Ionospheric Currents, Magnetohydrodynamic Stability, Plasma Sheaths, Polar Substorms, Satellite Sounding, Electric Fields, Magnetic Storms, Maxwell Equation, Viking Spacecraft

Scientific paper

A model for substorm breakup is developed, based on (1) the relaxation of stretched (closed) dipolar field lines and (2) the formation of an incipient current wedge within a single arc structure. It is argued that (2) leads to a quasi-stable system; i.e., the prebreakup regime. Perturbation of the prebreakup structure leads to an instability criterion. It is found, consistent with observations, that narrower auroral arcs at lower L shells undergo the most explosive poleward expansion. In this model, the precise location at which breakup occurs depends on the O(+) density in the plasma sheet, the level of magnetic activity (Kp), and the intensity of the substorm westward electrojet in the ionosphere. Comparison of the proposed model with the Heppner-Maynard polar-cap-potential model indicates that breakup is restricted to the west of the Harang discontinuity, consistent with recent Viking observations.

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