Theoretical structure of a magnetospheric plasma boundary: Application to the formation of discrete auroral arcs
Journal Article
·
· Journal of Geophysical Research
- Institut d`Aeronomie Spatiale de Belgique, Brussels (Belgium)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (United States)
The authors present a model for the electrical properties of the sheath that separates magnetospheric plasma regions with different properties. This could be thought of as the boundary of the magnetosphere and magnetotail, or the plasma sheet boundary, etc. They use a kinetic type theory based on ideas around tangential discontinuities. Using properties consistent with the magnetosphere and plasma sheet, they show that the sheath develops space charge type electrostatic potentials, perpendicular to the magnetic field and boundary. When the solar wind potential difference is also added to this, the potential structure is such as to account for auroral arc features.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 233037
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: A7 Vol. 98; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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