Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Apr 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008jgra..11304207s&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 113, Issue A4, CiteID A04207
Physics
Plasma Physics
Space Plasma Physics: Kinetic And Mhd Theory, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetotail, Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Sheet, Space Plasma Physics: Plasma Energization
Scientific paper
The central current sheet of the magnetotail has been modeled frequently as a nearly one-dimensional configuration that might have a significant role in magnetospheric physics as a site of particle acceleration. Yet comparisons of data with tail models have mainly used the Harris solution in spite of its deficiencies: No normal magnetic field, uniform cross-tail drift, and vanishing asymptotic plasma density. We present a time-independent one-dimensional multifluid model that separates ions into groups coming from sources above and below the current sheet. Electrons are a separate group. A disadvantage is that equations of state are required for closure. The isotropic pressure equation of state is supported by observation and gives reasonable results. This model is more realistic; it encodes more information than a single fluid or an ion and electron fluid model. This fluid model can be easily used to compare with magnetotail data. Field and plasma moment data provide boundary conditions for a model calculation. We examine symmetric models that predict specific relations between various quantities, such as magnetic field or density. Solutions are obtained similar to Harris' model, but with non-uniform out-of-plane ion flow and non-vanishing asymptotic density. Sheet thickness has weak dependence on the normal magnetic field and modest dependence on electron-to-ion pressure ratio. The ratio of sheet center to asymptotic density decreases with asymptotic ion pressure. This one-dimensional configuration of the current sheet, in Earth's reference frame, provides an example of conversion of electromagnetic energy into fluid energy.
McCarthy Mark P.
Steinhauer L. C.
Whipple Elden C.
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