Physics
Scientific paper
Apr 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009jgra..11400d02w&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 114, Issue A11, CiteID A00D02
Physics
11
Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Sheet, Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Convection (2463), Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosphere: Outer, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetotail
Scientific paper
To understand the large-scale plasma sheet thermodynamics, we have used Geotail data and a formula for estimating flux tube volume $\sf{V to investigate statistically the equatorial distributions of P $\sf{V 5/3 and n $\sf{V for slow flowing plasma in the nightside plasma sheet and compare them with the physical bases of ideal MHD and the Rice Convection Model (RCM). We have examined the distributions under three conditions: (1) weak convection and low AE, (2) enhanced convection and low AE, and (3) enhanced convection and high AE. The overall n $\sf{V decreases significantly with increasing convection or AE, while the overall P $\sf{V 5/3 remains similar. We found that P $\sf{V 5/3 drops significantly earthward along the estimated electric drift paths near midnight, inconsistent with ideal MHD. Examination of P k $\sf{V 5/3 and the electric and magnetic drift paths of different energy invariants, where P k is the partial pressure of a specific energy invariant, shows that the strong duskward drift of the above thermal-energy particles due to magnetic drift, together with there being significantly fewer higher-energy particles from the dawn flank than from the tail, results in the strong earthward decrease of P $\sf{V 5/3. We also found that d(P k $\sf{V 5/3)/dt = 0 and d(n k $\sf{V)/dt = 0 along the electric and magnetic drift paths used in the RCM are good approximations for slow flowing pressure-bearing plasma sheet ions. The distributions of n $\sf{V indicate that low-energy plasma becomes dominant when convection and AE are low, and their transport from the flanks may be affected by nonadiabatic processes not included in ideal MHD or the RCM.
Lui Anthony Tat Yin
Lyons Larry R.
Nagai Tsugunobu
Wang Chih-Ping
Weygand James M.
No associations
LandOfFree
Plasma sheet P$\sf{V5/3 and n$\sf{V and associated plasma and energy transport for different convection strengths and AE levels does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Plasma sheet P$\sf{V5/3 and n$\sf{V and associated plasma and energy transport for different convection strengths and AE levels, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Plasma sheet P$\sf{V5/3 and n$\sf{V and associated plasma and energy transport for different convection strengths and AE levels will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1523088