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Structure of the distant geotail: ISEE-3 observations

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5412476
Results are presented of a theoretical and observational study of the distant geotail. The observations verify the following model predictions. Flux Transfer Events (FTEs), flux ropes of connected magnetosheath and magnetosphere field lines, advect tailward from the dayside magnetopause with the magnetosheath flow. They lie drawn out nearly parallel to the magnetotail axis just outside the main body of the magnetotail, giving it a filamentary structure. FTEs are termed reconnected magnet flux tubes (RMFTs), and they are recognized by their location, boundary normals, magnetic field, and plasma characteristics. Similarly structured flux ropes are found deep within the magnetotail near the plasma sheet-lobe boundary. They are associated with tailward-jetting hot plasma, high energy particles, strong broad band noise, auroral brightening, and disturbed ground magnetograms, and are therefore probably not related to RMFTs. Instead, these ropes may be related substorms, and possibly to the field-aligned currents that produce omega bands.
Research Organization:
California Univ., Los Angeles (USA)
OSTI ID:
5412476
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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