ISEE observations of the plasma sheet boundary, plasma sheet, and neutral sheet: 1, Electric field, plasma, and ion composition
The first simultaneous study of dc and ac electric and magnetic fields, E x B velocity, plasma flows, ..beta.., total energy density, energetic particles, and ion composition from the ISEE satellites and ground and interplanetary magnetic fields has been made to determine (1) the relationship of the previously observed electric fields at the plasma sheet boundary and at the neutral sheet to plasma parameters, and (2) whether the phenomena occurring during quiet and active times were consistent with the formation of a near-earth neutral line during substorms or with the boundary layer model. The following observations during the two substorms studied are in agreement with predictions of the neutral-line model: (1) the buildup of energy stored in the tail magnetic field for 1-2 hours prior to onset, followed by its rapid decrease after onset, (2) the enhanced convection of magnetic field lines and plasma into the neutral sheet from above and below as indicated by the E x B velocity, (3) tailward convection of field lines and plasma (E-italic/sub y/(dawnward and duskward) and B-italic/sub z-italic/ (northward and southward) anticorrelated in sign) at onset, followed by thinning of the plasma sheet, and then convection earthward (E-italic/sub y-italic/ and B-italic/sub z-italic/ correlated in sign) during recovery of the plasma sheet, (4) repeated encounters with the neutral sheet during the times of the large electric fields and fast plasma flows, indicating that both existed throughout the plasma sheet and not just at the boundary and that the substorm-associated phenomena were initiated (5) heating of electrons in association with fast tailward flow and southward B-italic/sub z-italic/.
- Research Organization:
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley
- OSTI ID:
- 5648438
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 91:A5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Detailed observations of the plasma sheet during a substorm on April 24, 1979
Geotail observations of a fast tailward flow at X{sub GSM}={minus}15R{sub E}
Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
PLASMA SHEET
ELECTRIC FIELDS
IONIC COMPOSITION
ENERGY DENSITY
EXPLORER SATELLITES
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOTAIL
TEARING INSTABILITY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
SATELLITES
640203* - Atmospheric Physics- Magnetospheric Phenomena- (-1987)