Inward Propagating Dipolarization Fronts in the Near-Earth Plasma Sheet: THEMIS multi-case studies

Physics

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[2744] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetotail

Scientific paper

Sudden large-amplitude (δBz~10 nT) increases in the Z-component of the magnetic field, referred to as dipolarization fronts, are often observed in the magnetotail plasma sheet during substorms and pseudo-breakups. Multi-point observations by the THEMIS probes accompanied by ground-based monitoring of aurora and magnetic field variations, provide the possibility to track the fronts in the plasma sheet and establish their association with auroral dynamics and substorm onset. We present results from a study of dipolarization fronts observed during conjunction events, when at least four of the five THEMIS probes were distributed along the magnetotail. We selected cases with fronts detected by at least three probes in the central plasma sheet. Using the multi-case approach, we discuss the most common properties or the particles and fields around dipolarization fronts, including their evolution as function of distance from Earth. It was found that dipolarization fronts: i) are thin boundaries, with a scale comparable to the ion gyroradius, separating hot and tenuous "active" plasma from ambient "quiet" plasma, and ii) are associated with rapid increase in fluxes of energetic (>20keV) particles. The dipolarization fronts, therefore, are boundaries of heated plasma intruding into the near-Earth plasma sheet.

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