Ion escape from the high latitude magnetopause: analysis of oxygen and proton dynamics in the presence of magnetic turbulence

Details Ion escape from the high latitude magnetopause: analysis of oxygen and proton dynamics in the presence of magnetic turbulence Ion escape from the high latitude magnetopause: analysis of oxygen and proton dynamics in the presence of magnetic turbulence

May 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agusmsm33a..07g&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2008, abstract #SM33A-07

Physics

Plasma Physics

2700 Magnetospheric Physics (6939), 7800 Space Plasma Physics, 7859 Transport Processes

Scientific paper

Recent Cluster observations of the vicinity of the high latitude magnetopause indicate the presence of beams of singly charged oxygen ions, which are of ionospheric origin. In this paper we examine the role of magnetic turbulence combined with a dc electric field across the magnetopause in causing the cross field transport of protons and of singly charged oxygen ions, by means of a kinetic test particle simulation. We find that the observed values of magnetosheath turbulence and electric fields can produce a substantial escape of the oxygen ions relative to protons. By varying the magnetic turbulence level in the simulation, we find that the number of O+ crossing the magnetopause grows with δ B/B0, and that very few ions can cross the magnetopause for δ B/B0 = 0. The ion temperature also grows with δ B/B0, showing that magnetic turbulence is effective in thermalizing the kinetic energy gain due to the cross-magnetopause potential drop. We suggest that this mechanism can help to explain Cluster observations of energetic oxygen ions during a high- latitude magnetopause crossing.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Ion escape from the high latitude magnetopause: analysis of oxygen and proton dynamics in the presence of magnetic turbulence does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Ion escape from the high latitude magnetopause: analysis of oxygen and proton dynamics in the presence of magnetic turbulence, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ion escape from the high latitude magnetopause: analysis of oxygen and proton dynamics in the presence of magnetic turbulence will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1400916