电离层上行O+离子沿不同经度处的磁力线向磁层的传输

根据解析求解引导中心近似的动力学方程得到的离子分布函数 ,研究了不同Kp指数条件下起源于不同电离层区域的上行O⁺离子通量密度沿不同经度处的磁力线的定态分布 ,并研究了上行O⁺离子向不同磁层区域传输的特性 .主要结果为 :（ 1 ）起源于向阳面极光带外侧及更低纬区的电离层离子基本上传输到向阳面磁层区 ;起源于背阳面极光带及更低纬区的电离层离子基本上传输到背阳面磁尾等离子体片区和闭合磁力线区 ;起源于极盖区及向阳面极光带内侧的电离层离子基本上传输到等离子体幔区和磁瓣区 .（ 2 ）上行离子主要分布在近地空间 ,其通量密度相对于地心距离呈负梯度 .（ 3）地磁活动指数Kp 增高时上行离子进入磁层的概率增大 ,因而上行离子起动力学作用的地球空间范围增大 .所得结果可解释有关地顶的观测特征 ,理论估算的上行离子在磁尾的通量密度与观测结果相符合.     

地球磁层对磁云边界层的大尺度响应分析——个例研究

主要分析了WIND飞船2004年11月9日探测的磁云边界层引起的大尺度地球磁层活动.磁层响应主要包括以下3个方面:(1)磁云边界层内本身持续较强南向磁场驱动了一个强磁暴的主相.(2)由于磁云边界层内部较强南向磁场持续一段时间后发生向北偏转触发了一个典型磁层亚暴.文中详细分析了亚暴膨胀相发生时夜侧磁层各区域的观测现象,包括极光观测、高纬地磁湾扰、地球同步轨道无色散粒子注入现象、Pi2脉动突然增强以及等离子体片偶极化现象等.(3)磁云边界层和前面鞘区组成一个动压增强区,此动压增强区强烈压缩磁层,致使磁层顶进入地球同步轨道以内;当磁云边界层扫过磁层时,位于向阳侧地球同步轨道上的两颗GOES卫星大部分时间位于磁层磁鞘中,以致很长时间内直接暴露在太阳风中.利用Shue(1998)模型计算得到当磁云边界层扫过磁层时磁层顶日下点的位置被压缩至距地心最近距离为5.1RE,磁云边界层的强动压结构以及强间断面决定了磁云边界层对磁层的强压缩效应.强动压结构、多个强间断结构以及持续较长时间的强南向磁场是许多磁云边界层的共性,这里以此磁云边界层事件为例分析了磁云边界层的地球磁层响应.     

利用GS流场重构方法研究磁尾等离子体片涡流

2000年9月30日Geotail卫星分别于17∶54∶36~18∶09∶00UT和18∶59∶00~19∶30∶00UT在磁尾晨侧等离子体片内(n≈0.4 cm^-3,T≈6 keV)观测到等离子体涡流事件.本文采用Grad-Shafranov (GS)流场重构技术再现了这些涡流的二维速度场、离子数密度和离子温度的分布图像.结果显示:从地心太阳磁层坐标系(GSM)赤道面上面看, 涡流的尺度约为5000 km×1400 km , 朝地球的运动速度约为15~25 km/s.所有5个涡流的旋转方向都为顺时针方向,旋转周期约为6~11 min.相邻涡流的相互作用导致它们之间的磁场强度增强.考察观测数据发现,涡流内不仅包含等离子体片热等离子体成分,也包含较大通量的类似源自磁鞘的冷等离子体成分(T<1 keV).这与观测到涡流等离子体的平均温度(T≈4 keV)较磁尾等离子体片等离子体的典型温度(T≈6 keV)明显偏低的事实是一致的.不仅如此,离子数密度和温度在结构内的分布也不均匀,数密度在涡流内部偏离中心的位置比较低而在每个涡流的边缘位置比较高,温度的分布大体上与密度相反.分析认为观测到的磁尾等离子体涡流事件可能由发生在低纬边界层的Kelvin-Helmholtz不稳定性引起,涡流结构内的冷等离子体可能来自磁层顶外部的磁鞘.     

太阳风湍流和磁层亚暴的一种机制

太阳风的动量涨落将通过磁层边界在磁尾激发磁流体力学波。快磁声波携带扰动能量传到等离子体片中,发展为激波,或者通过激波的相互作用而耗散能量,使等离子体加热。等离子体片中的随机费米加速机制,使麦克斯韦分布尾巴部分的高能量粒子被加速到更高能。在宁静态时,加热、加速与耗散过程平衡。当太阳风的动量或者其涨落较大时,整个加热和加速过程加剧,更多的高能粒子产生,并从等离子体片中逃逸,形成高速的等离子体流注入近地轨道和极区,表现为磁层亚暴过程。利用这种机制,可以解释地球磁层亚暴的定性特征。     

地球磁层对磁云边界层的大尺度响应分析——个例研究

主要分析了WIND飞船2004年11月9日探测的磁云边界层引起的大尺度地球磁层活动．磁层响应主要包括以下3个方面：（1）磁云边界层内本身持续较强南向磁场驱动了一个强磁暴的主相．（2）由于磁云边界层内部较强南向磁场持续一段时间后发生向北偏转触发了一个典型磁层亚暴．文中详细分析了亚暴膨胀相发生时夜侧磁层各区域的观测现象,包括极光观测、高纬地磁湾扰、地球同步轨道无色散粒子注入现荆、Pi2脉动突然增强以及等离子体片偶极化现象等．（3）磁云边界层和前面鞘区组成一个动压增强区,此动压增强区强烈压缩磁层,致使磁层顶进入地球同步轨道以内;当磁云边界层扫过磁层时,位于向阳侧地球同步轨道上的两颗GOES卫星大部分时间位于磁层磁鞘中,以致很长时间内直接暴露在太阳风中．利用Shue（1998）模型计算得到当磁云边界层扫过磁层时磁层顶日下点的位置被压缩至距地心最近距离为5．1RE,磁云边界层的强动压结构以及强间断面决定了磁云边界层对磁层的强压缩效应．强动压结构、多个强间断结构以及持续较长时间的强南向磁场是许多磁云边界层的共性,这里以此磁云边界层事件为例分析了磁云边界层的地球磁层响应．     

中近磁尾等离子体片统计特性研究

本文使用Cluster-C1卫星的CIS仪器和FGM仪器测量得到的质子通量数据和计算的β数据,判断Cluster卫星在地球磁尾不同位置位于等离子体片内的概率.使用2001—2004年7—11月的Cluster-C1数据,分别在行星际磁场南向和北向时,得出X-10RE区域内卫星位于等离子体片的概率在Y-Dz平面的分布图(Dz是卫星到中性片的距离).通过对比行星际磁场南向和北向时的卫星位于等离子体片的概率的分布图,我们发现等离子体片在行星际磁场南向时比在行星际磁场北向时要薄,并且这个效应在磁尾晨昏两侧比在午夜附近明显,同时我们还发现等离子体片在晨侧比在昏侧厚.     

Cluster探测到磁尾等离子体注入的特征

利用Cluster卫星2001～2004年磁尾运行期间RAPID仪器的数据,确定了115例磁尾等离子体注入事件,借助时序叠加法统计研究磁尾等离子体注入现象的特征.注入事件主要分布于磁地方时夜晚20时至凌晨04时.与同步轨道区观测到的粒子注入事件类似,可以将磁尾粒子注入事件分成五类：（1）只有离子注入;（2）离子先于电子注入;（3）离子和电子同时注入;（4）电子先于离子注入;（5）只有电子注入.磁尾粒子注入时,质子（能量范围0～40 keV）的温度和数密度同时显著增加,沿地球径向的传播速度也明显增大.统计分析磁尾注入期间同时观测到的晨昏对流电场,发现电场可分为两类：（A）注入后电场突然增大,电场强度为正;（B）注入后电场突然增大,电场强度为负.利用磁层磁场（T89c）和电场（Volland-Stern）模型模拟粒子注入后赤道面的电漂移速度矢量,模拟结果与统计结果基本一致,表明晨昏对流电场引起的电漂移是驱动磁尾（-18R_EE）等离子体沿地球径向注入的机制之一.     

地球磁层中超低频波与低能粒子的相互作用

太阳风—磁层耦合过程会产生各种等离子体波,其中超低频波的频率最低(1 mHz～1 Hz)、波长最长(与内磁层磁力线长度相当)、能量密度最大.超低频波在磁层粒子加速、物质输运和能量转化中起着重要作用.以往的研究主要关注超低频波的全球性传播和分布特征以及这些波动与磁层能量粒子(辐射带电子和环电流离子)的相互作用过程.最近几...     

基于JUNO卫星WAVES仪器波动数据的木星磁层哨声波分析研究

等离子体波的空间分布在木星磁层高能电子动力学过程中起着重要的作用.现有大多数对木星磁层哨声波的观测仅限于|λ|≤15°的磁纬范围内,但是最新的JUNO卫星WAVES仪器提供的波动数据使得更高纬度、更广区域范围内的等离子体波动分布研究成为可能.本文通过对JUNO卫星WAVES仪器数据进行分析处理,详细研究了木星磁层哨声波的空间分布特性.观测表明,存在位于高LJ、高磁纬的木星磁层哨声波,它们广泛分布于距木星中心距离35～75个木星半径、磁纬为|λ|≤30°的空间区域.分析研究发现,WAVES仪器观测的木星磁层哨声波幅度一般为几个pT,远小于地球磁层哨声波的强度.木星磁层哨声波幅会随着LJ的增大缓慢增加,也会随着磁纬的减小趋向平缓变化.基于以上观测事实,本文利用指数幂函数分别拟合得到木星磁层哨声波幅随LJ和磁纬变化的经验模型.该模型将有助于精确理解哨声波对木星磁层高能电子动力学过程的重要影响.     

基于中性原子通量数据的磁暴期间环电流研究

本文通过分析两次大磁暴期间的中性原子(ENA)通量数据,试图揭示环电流离子通量的变化规律,进一步探讨环电流的形成和损失机制,以及磁暴和亚暴的关系.两次磁暴期间ENA通量的变化呈现出一些重要的特征:(1)通量随能量的增高而快速降低,磁暴主相期间高能端通量所占比重增大;(2)通量比例曲线的起伏远比通量曲线的起伏要平缓;(3)通量的起伏与AE指数之间没有简单的对应关系;(4)磁暴恢复相开始前,ENA通量出现短时间的猛烈增长,特别是低能端通量的增长异常迅速;(5)Dst/SYM-H指数快速恢复期间,ENA通量的变化表现为两个完全不同的阶段:先降低,后增大.忽略影响ENA通量的其他次要因素,ENA通量的上述特征直接反映了环电流的发展规律.环电流离子通量随能量的增高快速下降,磁暴主相期间可能由于高能O⁺的增加使得能谱有所变硬.离子主要受南向行星际磁场(IMF)所引起的对流电场的驱动注入到环电流区域,通量的变化大体上是无色散的.亚暴活动与环电流的增长没有直接的因果关系,但亚暴活动会引起环电流离子通量的短时间尺度波动.恢复相开始前,环电流离子在昏侧区域发生堆积,使得局部离子通量变大.这可能是由于屏蔽电场的形成削弱了内磁层对流电场,造成离子在磁层顶的逃逸损失过程减弱.在Dst/SYM-H指数的快速恢复期间,环电流离子通量的衰减速度也可能发生阶段性变化.这说明Dst/SYM-H指数并不能准确反映环电流的强度,环电流的衰减过程可能具有比先快后慢更为复杂的阶段性模式.     

The effects of IMF and convection on thermal ion outflow in magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

We study the influence of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and convection electric field on the rate and destination of polar wind and other thermal (low-energy) ion outflows, and its resulting effects on magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling, using single-particle trajectory simulations in conjunction with ion velocity distribution measurements on Akebono and IMF and ionospheric convection data. We find that the ions preferentially feed the dusk sector of the plasma sheet when the IMF is duskward (B_y>0), and are more evenly distributed in the plasma sheet when the IMF is dawnward. The flow of oxygen ions originating from the noon or dusk sectors of the polar cap has a higher probability of reaching the magnetosphere and beyond compared with that from the dawn or midnight sectors, due to the increased centrifugal acceleration associated with the larger magnetic field curvature near noon and the increased convection electric field in the dusk sector. The flow is enhanced and confined to lower L-shells at times of strongly southward IMF, compared with that at times of northward IMF. The outflow rate to both the plasma sheet and the magnetotail correlates strongly with the ion temperature. As a result, the IMF and the convection electric fields affect both the overall magnitude and the detailed distribution of mass transfer from the ionosphere to the magnetosphere in magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling.     

Comparative characteristics of ion and electron precipitation in the dawn and dusk sectors

Characteristics of ion and electron precipitations in the dawn and dusk sectors are investigated by DMSP F6 and F7 satellite observations. It is shown that in the dusk sector the positions of electron and ion precipitation boundaries are nearly coincident for all levels of magnetic activity; however the latitudinal distribution of energy fluxes indicates that the positions of electron and ion precipitation maxima are spatially separated. Maximum energy fluxes of ions is observed at the equatorial precipitation boundary, while those of electrons at the poleward one. In the dawn sector, the electron precipitation region is 3°–4° wider than that of ions. The isotropy boundary in the dusk sector is located in the region of diffuse precipitation (DAZ) near its poleward boundary for all levels of magnetic activity, while in the dawn sector it falls in the region of structured precipitations (AOP). Electron precipitations are dominating in the dawn sector. Here in the region of diffuse precipitation (DAZ), the ion energy fluxes Fi make less than 5% as compared to the electron energy flux Fe. In the region of structured precipitations (AOP), the portion of Fi decreases with increasing magnetic activity from ~10–20% for AL ≈ -100 nT to <5% for AL ≈ -1000 nT. As for the dusk sector, in the AOP region, electron precipitations are dominating as well, while in the DAZ region the ion energy fluxes are significant. In the 1500–1800 MLT sector, the ratio Fi/Fe increases from ~0.7 to ~3.0 with AL changing from -100 nT to -1000 nT.     

Quiet-time Pc 5 pulsations in the Earth’s magnetotail: IMP-8, ISEE-1 and ISEE-3 simultaneous observations

Quasi-periodic Pc 5 pulsations have been reported inside and just outside the Earth’s magnetotail during intervals of low geomagnetic activity. In order to further define their characteristics and spatial extent, we present three case studies of simultaneous magnetic field and plasma observations by IMP-8, ISEE-1 (and ISEE-2 in one case) in the Earth’s magnetotail and ISEE-3 far upstream of the bow shock, during intervals in which the spacecraft were widely separated. In the first case study, similar pulsations are observed by IMP-8 at the dawn flank of the plasma sheet and by ISEE-1 near the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL) near midnight local time. In the second case study, simultaneous pulsations are observed by IMP-8 in the dusk magnetosheath and by ISEE-1 and 2 in the dawn plasma sheet. In the third case study, simultaneous pulsations are observed in the north plasma sheet boundary layer and the south plasma sheet. We conclude that the pulsations occur simultaneously throughout much of the nightside magnetosphere and the surrounding magnetosheath, i.e. that they have a global character. Some additional findings are the following: (a) the observed pulsations are mixed mode compressional and transverse, where the compressional character is more apparent in the close vicinity of the plane Z_GSM=0; (b) the compressional pulsations of the magnetic field in the dusk magnetosheath show peaks that coincide (almost one-to-one) with similar peaks observed inside the dawn plasma sheet; (c) in the second case study the polarization sense of the magnetic field and the recurrent left-hand plasma vortices observed in the dawn plasma sheet are consistent with antisunward moving waves on the magneto-pause; (d) pulsation amplitudes are weaker in the PSBL(or lobe) as compared with those in the magneto-tail’s flanks, suggesting a decay with distance from the magnetopause; (e) the thickness of the plasma sheet (under extremely quiet conditions) is estimated to be \sim22 R_E at an average location of (X, Y)_GSM=(16, 17) R_E, whereas at midnight local time the thickness is \sim14 R_E. The detected pulsations are probably due to the pressure variations (recorded by ISEE-3) in the solar wind, and/or the Kelvin Helmholtz instability in the low-latitude boundary layer or the magnetopause due to a strongly northward IMF.     

Ion drift in the earth’s inner plasmasphere during magnetospheric disturbances and proton temperature dynamics

Based on the thermal plasma measurements in the Earth’s inner plasmasphere on the INTER-BALL-2 and MAGION-5 satellites it has been indicated that the plasmaspheric ion temperature as a rule decreases during the main phase of magnetic storms; in this case the plasma density increases or remains at the level typical of undisturbed conditions. The physical mechanism by which the ion drift during a magnetic storm results in a temperature decrease is described. It is shown that the third adiabatic invariant also remains in processes with a characteristic time shorter than the period of charged particle drift around the Earth for cold equatorial plasma. The constructed model of the drift shell displacement from the Earth caused by a decrease in the magnetic field in the inner magnetosphere during the development of a magnetic storm satisfactorily describes the decrease in the proton temperature near the equatorial plane.     

The INTERBALL-Tail ELECTRON experiment: initial results on the low-latitude boundary layer of the dawn magnetosphere

The Toulouse electron spectrometer flown on the Russian project INTERBALL-Tail performs electron measurements from 10 to 26 000 eV over a 4 solid angle in a satellite rotation period. The INTERBALL-Tail probe was launched on 3 August 1995 together with a subsatellite into a 65° inclination orbit with an apogee of about 30 R_E. The INTERBALL mission also includes a polar spacecraft launched in August 1996 for correlated studies of the outer magnetosphere and of the auroral regions. We present new observations concerning the low-latitude boundary layers (LLBL) of the magnetosphere obtained near the dawn magnetic meridian. LLBL are encountered at the interface between two plasma regimes, the magnetosheath and the dayside extension of the plasma sheet. Unexpectedly, the radial extent of the region where LLBL electrons can be sporadically detected as plasma clouds can reach up to 5 R_E inside the magnetopause. The LLBL core electrons have an average energy of the order of 100 eV and are systematically field-aligned and counterstreaming. As a trend, the temperature of the LLBL electrons increases with decreasing distance to Earth. Along the satellite orbit, the apparent time of occurrence of LLBL electrons can vary from about 5 to 20 min from one pass to another. An initial first comparison between electron-and magnetic-field measurements indicates that the LLBL clouds coincide with a strong increase in the magnetic field (by up to a factor of 2). The resulting strong magnetic field gradient can explain why the plasma-sheet electron flux in the keV range is strongly depressed in LLBL occurrence regions (up to a factor of 10). We also show that LLBL electron encounters are related to field-aligned current structures and that wide LLBL correspond to northward interplanetary magnetic field. Evidence for LLBL/plasma-sheet electron leakage into the magnetosheath during southward IMF is also presented.     

Deformation of the magnetosphere and the penetration boundary of solar protons before the onset of the main phase of a magnetic storm

The ring current is conventionally considered responsible for the shift of the boundary of solar proton penetration into the inner Earth’s magnetosphere during magnetic storms. The cases of a boundary shift were observed in some works on the dark side before the onset of a magnetic storm, i.e., at positive values of the Dst index. In this work, this type of shift of the penetration boundary is considered in detail with two storms as examples. It is shown that the corresponding distortion of the magnetosphere configuration is induced by an increase in the solar wind pressure during the initial phase of a magnetic storm. The current induced in this case on the magnetopause is closed by a current in the equator plane, which changes the configuration of the dark side of the inner magnetosphere, weakens the magnetic field, and allows solar protons to penetrate the inner magnetosphere. The significant difference in the positions of the penetration boundary and the boundary found from models of the magnetosphere magnetic field can be explained by insufficient consideration of closing currents.     

Effect of the ponderomotive force caused by Alfvén waves on a background plasma in the dayside magnetosphere

The effect of the ponderomotive force on the background plasma modification near magnetic holes, which form at the dayside magnetospheric boundary under the action of the solar wind, has been studied. It was shown that this effect results in a substantial increase in a nonlinear plasma density disturbance. The dependence of the ponderomotive force on the magnetospheric parameters (the magnetic longitude, distance from the Earth’s surface, ratio of the wave frequency to the proton gyrofrequency, and ionospheric ion cyclotron wave amplitude) has been studied. Nonlinear plasma density disturbances will be maximal in the region of magnetic holes, which are located in the dayside magnetosphere at λ ~ 0°?30° geomagnetic longitudes (λ = 0° corresponds to noon), where the effect of the solar wind pressure is maximal. A similar effect is also observed in the dependence of a nonlinear plasma density disturbance on other magnetospheric parameters.     

2004年11月磁暴期间环电流的演化过程——TC-2卫星中性原子成像仪观测结果

本文通过对TC-2卫星上搭载的中性原子成像仪(NUADU)在2004年11月发生的一次大磁暴期间观测到的一系列中性原子(ENA)图像的分析,试图给出环电流在磁暴期间的演化模式.研究表明,南向的行星际磁场(IMF)分量在离子从磁尾向内磁层注入和随后的环电流增长过程中起着关键的作用.IMF转为北向后,离子注入随即很快停止.在离子注入增强期间,离子的漂移路径是开放的,以致大量环电流离子从黄昏侧注入后快速地损失在黄昏至正午的磁层顶.所以,环电流往往在离子漂移路径从开放变为封闭后才达到最大强度,而不是在这之前,尽管那时的离子注入强度更大.在该磁暴主相期间,离子注入发生在17∶00~22∶00 LT范围内,形成极其不对称的环电流分布形态.而在恢复相期间,由于受大的IMF B_y分量的影响,离子注入区的地方时分布范围东向扩张.对称环电流在磁尾对流减小、离子漂移路径变为封闭形态之后形成.在磁暴恢复相后期,从ENA图像看环电流基本衰减到平静时期的水平,而Dst指数仍然显示较强的磁扰动,这说明越尾电流对Dst指数有很重要的影响.     

Poker flat radar observations of the magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling electrodynamics of the earthward penetrating plasma sheet following convection enhancements

The plasma sheet moves earthward (equatorward in the ionosphere) after enhancements in convection, and the electrodynamics of this response is strongly influenced by Region 2 magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling. We have used Poker Flat Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR) observations associated with two relatively abrupt southward turnings of the IMF to provide an initial evaluation of aspects of this response. The observations show that strong westward sub-auroral polarization streams (SAPS) flow regions moved equatorward as the plasma sheet electron precipitation (the diffuse aurora) penetrated equatorward following the IMF southward turnings. Consistent with our identification of these flows as SAPS, concurrent DMSP particle precipitation measurements show the equatorial boundary of ion precipitation equatorward of the electron precipitation boundary and that westward flows lie within the low-conductivity region between the two boundaries where the plasma sheet ion pressure gradient is expected to drive downward R2 currents. Evidence for these downward currents is seen in the DMSP magnetometer observations. Preliminary examination indicates that the SAPS response seen in the examples presented here may be common. However, detailed analysis will be required for many more events to reliably determine if this is the case. If so, it would imply that SAPS are frequently an important aspect of the inner magnetospheric electric field distribution, and that they are critical for understanding the response of the magnetosphere–ionosphere system to enhancements in convection, including understanding the earthward penetration of the plasma sheet. This earthward penetration is critical to geomagnetic disturbance phenomena such as the substorm growth phase and the formation of the stormtime ring current. Additionally, for one example, a prompt electric field response to the IMF southward turnings is seen within the inner plasma sheet.