Energetic particles in the vicinity of a possible neutral line in the plasma sheet
We have analyzed energetic protons in the energy range 30 to 500 keV and energetic electrons > or =75 keV obtained with the Max-Planck-Institut/University of Maryland sensor system on ISEE-1 during a plasma sheet crossing on March 26, 1978. The behavior of protons with energies of more than approx.100 keV is very different from that of the approx.30 to approx.100 keV protons which represent the suprathermal tail of the plasma sheet distribution. The more energetic ions appear on a time scale of serveral minutes following a northward turning of the tail magnetic field. At about the same time the plassma measurements show a velocity of approx.200 km/s in the tailward direction. This velocity enhancement is first seen at ISEE-1 and later on at ISEE-2, which is earthward of ISEE-1. The temporal sequence of the energetic particle, magnetic field, and plasma observations and the proton and electron anisotropies are discussed in terms of acceleration near a magnetic neutral line which occurs well within the plasma sheet. In this framework the magnetic neutral line would move earthward, followed by a magnetic island. The extent of the neutral line would be limited to the dusk side of the tail. No disruption of the plasma sheet is observed as compared to large-scale substorm activity.
- Research Organization:
- Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik
- OSTI ID:
- 6814331
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 88:A10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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