Cross-Field Advection of Magnetic Energy as a Source of Power for Auroral Arcs

Details Cross-Field Advection of Magnetic Energy as a Source of Power for Auroral Arcs Cross-Field Advection of Magnetic Energy as a Source of Power for Auroral Arcs

Dec 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufmsm41c..02k&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #SM41C-02

Physics

[2704] Magnetospheric Physics / Auroral Phenomena, [2721] Magnetospheric Physics / Field-Aligned Currents And Current Systems, [2760] Magnetospheric Physics / Plasma Convection

Scientific paper

We consider the energetics of a system wherein large-scale magnetospheric convection causes plasma to flow across two-dimensional sheets of field-aligned current (FAC). This scenario requires that the FACs be held stationary against the flow, for example through their connection to conductivity enhancements in the lower ionosphere, or by attachment to the pressure gradient or boundary that generates them. The key result is that plasma convection across current sheets can lead to cross-field transport and deposition of magnetic energy δ B2/2μ 0, where δ B is the magnetic perturbation associated with the FAC. In a quasi-static steady state, Poynting's theorem shows that this energy is available to enhance the field-aligned component of Poynting flux, to accelerate particles via electric fields, or both. We show that, with reasonable assumptions, the net field-aligned energy flux made available through cross-field advection can account for a significant fraction of the total deposition observed on auroral flux tubes. While our analysis is applied to an idealized, quasi-static, two-dimensional system, the mechanism it illustrates could play a role in more dynamic and three-dimensional auroral forms as well.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Cross-Field Advection of Magnetic Energy as a Source of Power for Auroral Arcs 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 Cross-Field Advection of Magnetic Energy as a Source of Power for Auroral Arcs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cross-Field Advection of Magnetic Energy as a Source of Power for Auroral Arcs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1891247