Multiple crossings of a very thin plasma sheet in the earth's magnetotail
Technical Report
·
OSTI ID:5398547
High resolution magnetic field, plasma and energetic particle data from the IMP-8 spacecraft were studied for multiple crossings of the Earth's magnetotail plasma sheet when it becomes thin during magnetospheric substorms. Traversals recur on a time scale of several minutes and they are associated with high velocity plasma flows that are usually directed tailward but are occasionally directed earthward for brief intervals. Observations are explained by rapid oscillations of a plasma sheet that is only a few thousand km thick, a dimension comparable to the gyroradius of energetic protons. Differences in the angular distributions of the two energies indicate that the higher energy protons are preferentially located on field lines deeper in the tail lobe. A neutral line acceleration model is supported tailward streaming energetic electrons which are occasionally present at the lobe plasma sheet interface.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD (USA). Goddard Space Flight Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5398547
- Report Number(s):
- NASA-TM-82147
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Multiple crossings of a very thin plasma sheet in the earth's magnetotail
Streaming reversal of energetic particles in the magnetetail during a substorm
Several features of the earthward and tailward streaming of energetic protons (0. 29--0. 5 MeV) in the earth's plasma sheet
Journal Article
·
Mon Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1981
· J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5168750
Streaming reversal of energetic particles in the magnetetail during a substorm
Journal Article
·
Wed Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 1984
· J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6218157
Several features of the earthward and tailward streaming of energetic protons (0. 29--0. 5 MeV) in the earth's plasma sheet
Journal Article
·
Mon Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1981
· J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5233656