Shape and postion of the plasma sheet in earth's magnetotail

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA089iA04p02169· OSTI ID:6977917

Voigt, G

The configuration of the tail plasma sheet in earth's magnetotail has been calculated in connection with a three-dimensional magnetospheric B field modle. This model is based on the idea that thermal plasma, tail currents, and magnetic field be in magnetohydrostatic equilibrium during time periods of magnetically quiet conditions. The tail configuration is generated by a separation method assuming a cylindrical magnetotail boundary with constant radius. The separation method restricts self-consistency to planes perpendicular to the tail axis. The computed tail plasma sheet is flexible and reacts to changes of the earth's dipole tilt angle and changes of the solar wind pressure. Consequences for the plasma sheet configuration with respect to the assumed tail magnetopause shape and the separation method are the following: (1) the plasma sheet thickness increases in Y/sub GSM/ direction toward the flanks of the tail; (2) the plasma sheet becomes thicker and more diffuse with increasing distance from the earth; (3) during the northern hemisphere summer, the neutral sheet is raised above the magnetospheric equatorial plane around local midnight but crosses this plane and is depressed below it near the flanks of the tail. The latter result agrees qualitatively with Fairfield's empirical neutral sheet model which he derived from spacecraft measurements of the tail field polarity. This agreement between theory and observational material provides a further piece of evidence that the magnetohydrostatic theory is an appropriate level for describing quantitatively the quiet state of the magnetosphere.

• Research Organization: Department of Space Physics and Astronomy, Rice University
• OSTI ID: 6977917
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 89:A4; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSPHERE
MAGNETOTAIL
PLASMA SHEET
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VARIATIONS