Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Nov 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011georl..3822103z&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 38, Issue 22, CiteID L22103
Physics
Plasma Physics
Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetotail, Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Sheet, Space Plasma Physics: Discontinuities (2109), Space Plasma Physics: Kinetic Waves And Instabilities, Space Plasma Physics: Wave/Particle Interactions (2483, 6984)
Scientific paper
We investigate the small-scale structure of jet fronts through a case study of multi-spacecraft Cluster observations in the near-Earth flow-braking region at ˜-10 RE. We find that the interaction between the earthward moving fast plasma jet and the high-β ambient plasma in the plasma sheet results in magnetic pileup and compression ahead of the jet and rarefaction trailing the jet. It is shown that mirror-mode structures of ion gyroradius scale develop within the pileup region due to the observed ion temperature anisotropy (Ti$\perp$ > Ti$\parallel$). We suggest that the growth of these mirror modes is driven by the perpendicular total pressure perturbation (Δp$\perp$) generated by the braking jet. When Δp$\perp$ becomes too large, the mirror-mode structure cannot maintain pressure balance any longer, and consequently a shocklet is formed in the pileup region ahead of the jet front. We present the first evidence for such a kinetic shocklet in the flow-braking region.
Baumjohann Wolfgang
Khotyaintsev Yuri
Nakamura Rumi
Retinò Alessandro
Vaivads Andris
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