Energy storage and dissipation in the magnetotail during substorms. 1. Particle simulations

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JA02705· OSTI ID:6518763

Winglee, R M ^[1]; Steinolfson, R S ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle (United States)
2. Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (United States)

The authors present a simulation study of the particle dynamics in the magnetotail during the development of substorms. They look at how energy flows into the magnetotail under external magnetospheric conditions, and study the energy storage and dissipation in the magnetic field, and the role of particle dynamics in this process. They consider two primary external influences in their model. First is the pressure exerted by the magnetospheric boundary layer, on the nightside magnetopause. This pressure is expected to grow in response to solar wind penetration into the magnetosphere when the interplanetary magnetic field becomes southward in the initial phases of substorm growth. Second is the dawn to dusk electric field. This field is expected to grow as the current sheet thins and energy stored in the magnetic field rises. The authors argue that the simultaneous increase in both the magnetic pressure and electric field can better model magnetotail response. One sees strong earthward flows in conjunction with increased energy storage in the tail, and at substorm onset one sees the ejection of plasmoids in a tailward direction with increased particle heating. The clumping of particles in the current sheet due to the opposing effects of the magnetic pressure and electric field could be responsible for substorm onset, rather than instabilities such as the tearing mode.

• OSTI ID: 6518763
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 98:A5; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DYNAMICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ENERGY STORAGE
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC STORMS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOTAIL
MECHANICS
PARTICLE KINEMATICS
PLASMA SHEET
PLASMOIDS
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
STORAGE