ISEE-1 and 2 observations of magnetic flux ropes in the magnetotail: FTE's in the plasma sheet

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL013i007p00648· OSTI ID:5496615

Elphic, R C; Russel, C T; Cattell, C A; Takahashi, K; Bame, S J

Magnetic field observations on ISEE-1 and 2 in and near the neutral sheet about 20 Re down the near-Earth magnetotail reveal the occurrence of structures resembling magnetic flux ropes. Both electric field and fast plasma data show that these structures convect across the spacecraft at speeds of 200--600 km/s, and that they have scale sizes of roughly 3--5 Re. The rope axis orientation is across the tail, approximately in the -Y GSM direction. Their magnetic structure is strikingly similar to magnetic flux ropes observed in the Venus ionosphere, and to flux transfer events observed at the dayside magnetopause. The total field-aligned current within these ropes may approach a million amps. These structures may arise because of patchy reconnection within the plasma sheet, or may be tearing islands formed when the plasma sheet magnetic field has a cross-tail component. Plasma sheet flux ropes are not a common feature at ISEE orbital altitudes; this suggests that near-Earth neutral line formation within ISEE apogee (22 Re) may be equally rare.

• Research Organization: Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 5496615
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 13:7; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETOTAIL
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA SHEET