Particle acceleration during substorm growth and onset

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 UTC 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i005p00587· OSTI ID:6485633

Williams, D J; Mitchell, D G ^[1]; Huang, C Y; Frank, L A ^[2]; Russell, C T ^[3]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (USA)
2. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City (USA)
3. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (USA)

The authors present ISEE-1 observations of ion and electron energization made at {approximately}11 R{sub E} during a substorm event occurring on 2 April 1978. An analysis of the dominant cross-tail current systems in this event has allowed them to uniquely associate particle energization processes with the development and/or disruption of the cross-tail currents. They find that significant ion acceleration occurs as the ions participate in serpentine cross-tail motion (Speiser, 1965), establishing the dominant plasma sheet current system just prior to onset. As this current disruptions the magnetic field configuration dipolarizes and further ion energization and the bulk of the electron energization occurs. During dipolarization energization is due primarily to the inductive electric field, including betatron and Fermi acceleration processes.

• OSTI ID: 6485633
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 17:5; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
CHARGED PARTICLES
CURRENTS
DYNAMICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
ION DENSITY
IONS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MECHANICS
PLASMA SHEET
SATELLITES