Characteristics of the magnetospheric boundary layer and magnetopause layer in high time resolution

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6657483

Eastman, T E; Hones, Jr, E W

A basic problem of magnetospheric physics is to determine how and where solar wind mass, momentum and energy is transferred to the magnetosphere. IMP 6 plasma and magnetic field data indicate that the closed magnetospheric boundary layer is always present adjacent to and earthward of the magnetopause layer at all locations equatorward of the entry layer and plasma mantle. All IMP 6 crossings show some magnetosheath-like plasma earthward of the magnetopause layer and the boundary layer electron spectra are often indistinguishable from the nearby magnetosheath electron spectra. In 24 out of 40 crossings, no change in density or electron spectra is observed near the magnetopause layer. In most remaining cases, changes in the plasma parameters occur primarily in the boundary layer. Observed boundary layer bulk plasma flow always has an anti-sunward component and often has a cross-field component. Energetic electron pitch angle distributions indicate that the boundary layer is on closed field lines. During six IMP 6 crossings near local noon, equatorward of the cusp regions, boundary layer plasma flow was observed to have an anti-sunward component consistent with flow away from the subsolar region or the nearby magnetosheath. The observations are not consistent with a primary source in the cusp region or any other nonlocal source. It is concluded that the boundary layer is populated primarily by direct plasma transport through the magnetopause layer.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6657483
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-78-1640; CONF-780598-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
LINEAR MOMENTUM
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSPHERE
MASS
PLASMA DRIFT
RESOLUTION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
TIME RESOLUTION
TIMING PROPERTIES