Observation of plasma deceleration at a rotational magnetopause discontinuity

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL011i001p00008· OSTI ID:6719369

Aggson, T L; Maynard, N C; Ogilvie, K W; Scudder, J D; Gambardella, P J

This letter presents a detailed experimental analysis of the electric fields and electron flow velocities at a rotational magnetopause discontinuity. It is shown for this event that the magnetoshearth plasma velocity is sharply decelerated on entry into the magnetosphere in very good agreement with a theoretical magnetohydrodynamic fit. This type of event is remarkable because the quantity E+J is negative during the magnetopause crossing. This case represents one of two types of valid solution to the MHD boundary conditions. It differs from previously published examples of reconnective magnetopause geometries in that energy is being transferred locally from kinetic energy into electromagnetic energy at the time of these measurements.

• Research Organization: Laboratory for Extraterrestrail Physics, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
• OSTI ID: 6719369
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 11:1; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSHEATH
MECHANICS
PLASMA ACCELERATION