木星磁尾重联产生的磁通量管向内运动的数值模拟

本文通过利用包含离心力的自洽、轴对称稳态木星磁层模型,以及等离子体细丝运动理论对磁尾重联产生的磁通量管向内输运进行研究.基于细丝运动理论模型,通过MHD数值模拟我们可以得到磁通量管随时间变化的许多特性.模拟结果表明,重联产生的磁通量管向内运动可到达10RJ以内,磁通量管赤道部分的速度可以达到350km·s-1左右,表现出很强的向行星方向的流动.初始磁通量管中的等离子体密度和压强均小于周围介质,随着它迅速向木星方向运动,它的等离子体密度由于体积压缩逐渐上升,等离子体压强则逐渐上升到与周围介质相当.磁通量管在电离层上足点向赤道方向的运动滞后于它在赤道面上向行星方向的运动.     

大气重力波产生的大尺度赤道电离层扰动

本文研究了大气重力波产生的大尺度赤道电离层扰动的性质．当重力波的传播方向与磁场方向倾斜相交时，重力波在Ｆ区产生行进电离层扰动．当重力波垂直于磁场传播时，能触发等离子体Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｔａｙｌｏｒ不稳定性，形成大尺度赤道扩展Ｆ不均匀体．重力波引起的扩展Ｆ主要出现于晚上，行进电离层扰动则可能出现于任何时间．本文建立了行进电离层扰动和大尺度赤道扩展Ｆ的统一理论模型，深入全面地揭示了电离层扰动的性质．     

大气重力波触发的Rayleigh－Taylor不稳定性的时空演变

对大气重力波触发的赤道电离层Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｔａｙｌｏｒ不稳定性的时空演变进行了数值模拟．结果表明，重力波能在Ｆ区底部触发Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｔａｙｌｏｒ不稳定性，这种等离子体不稳定扰动穿过Ｆ峰，到达Ｆ区顶部，形成等离子体泡结构．等离子体泡出现向西倾斜和分岔等特征．当夜Ｆ区较高时，产生等离子体泡的时间仅１９００ｓ．数值模拟结果证实了重力波触发．Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｔａｙｌｏｒ不稳定性的理论，解释了大量电离层观测现象．     

大气重力波触发的Rayleigh－Taylor不稳定性的时空演变

对大气重力波触发的赤道电离层Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｔａｙｌｏｒ不稳定性的时空演变进行了数值模拟．结果表明，重力波能在Ｆ区底部触发Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｔａｙｌｏｒ不稳定性，这种等离子体不稳定扰动穿过Ｆ峰，到达Ｆ区顶部，形成等离子体泡结构．等离子体泡出现向西倾斜和分岔等特征．当夜Ｆ区较高时，产生等离子体泡的时间仅１９００ｓ．数值模拟结果证实了重力波触发．Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｔａｙｌｏｒ不稳定性的理论，解释了大量电离层观测现象．     

地球磁层顶磁场重联的动力学过程

用三维可压缩MHD数值模拟研究了在磁场重联过程中电子压力梯度项的效应研究结果发现在较高等离子体β,较小离子惯性尺度条件下,广义欧姆定理中压力梯度项在重联过程的作用不可忽略.在磁重联过程中,压力梯度项虽然没有明显改变磁场拓扑结构和重联速度,但它使电子和离子速度明显增大.由于在离子惯性尺度下,离子和电子运动解耦,电子是电流的主要载流子,所以场向电流也增大,并导致核心磁场明显增大.考虑到场向电流是磁层电离层耦合的一个重要因素,所以电子压力梯度项的引入加强了行星际磁场南向期间磁层电离层的耦合.电子压力梯度项还在重联区激发了波动,该波动可向重联区外传播.     

地球极区电离层对行星际激波的响应

本文就地球电离层对行星际激波的动力学响应进行三维全球数值模拟研究．背景行星际磁场为螺旋场，南北分量为零；初始电离层由Ⅰ区场向电流和相应的晨昏电场所主导；行星际激波沿日地连线方向撞击地球．模拟结果表明，在激波的作用下，电离层Ⅰ区电流系统向子夜方向运动，在向阳侧相继出现与原Ⅰ区电流反向的异常场向电流对和同向的新生Ⅰ区电流对．该异常场向电流对在极盖区形成瞬间昏晨电场，尾随原Ⅰ区电流向夜侧方向漂移直至湮没．与此同时，新生的Ⅰ区电流不断增强并向夜侧和赤道方向延伸，最终取代原Ⅰ区电流，相应极盖区又恢复到原来的晨昏电场状态．这一响应过程和行星际激波强度有关：激波强度越强，新生的Ⅰ区场向电流也越强，它向赤道方向延伸的距离也越大，能到达的纬度也越低．上述结果在趋势上与观测到的输运对流涡旋和亚极光块的运动特征一致．     

磁场重联耗散区内X线附近的强低混杂波的Geotail卫星观测研究

Geotail卫星于2003年5月15日在近地磁尾观测到磁场重联并穿越重联耗散区.卫星从尾向—南尾瓣一侧穿越磁场重联耗散区到地向—北尾瓣一侧的过程中,随着等离子体流反向,霍尔磁场(B_y) 被观测到.本文研究了该磁场重联耗散区内的低混杂波.观测结果显示,在磁场重联耗散区核心及其附近区域观测到在低混杂频率附近存在强烈的等离子体波动的增强,其传播方向主要垂直于背景磁场,该等离子体波动为低混杂波.前人的模拟结果认为,当磁场重联得到充分发展之前,低混杂波将消失.本文的观测结果充分说明,当磁场重联充分发展之后,在核心区域仍然存在增强的低混杂波,说明低混杂波贯穿磁场重联的整个发展过程.这种观测结果与计算机等离子体模拟的结果有所不同.本文的观测对低混杂波在磁场重联中的具体表现提供了新的观测证据并有可能修正前人的理论.     

中低纬度电离层对太阳风状态的响应

本文讨论了行星际磁场B₂分量变化时内磁层和中低纬度电离层的响应.指出B₂变化引起的磁层大尺度对流电场的变化在一定条件下有可能透入内磁层,并沿磁力线映射到中低纬度电离层,在那里产生电场和电流体系,从而使S_q电流体系发生畸变,并在地面磁场中反映出来.数值计算表明,当△B₂<0时,S_q电流体系的焦点向东和向高纬移动,地面磁场会观测到数伽马的变化.这就为中低纬地磁观测诊断磁层和太阳风状态提供了一种可能性.此外,本文还用上述物理过程解释了赤道地区一些高空物理现象,如B₂倒转时电离层漂移速度的变化,赤道磁场异常以及赤道q型偶现E层的消失等等.     

探测一号卫星在近地磁尾观测到的尾向流统计特性

在磁静和亚暴期间,TC 1卫星在近地磁尾，包括晨昏两侧和夜侧的尾瓣、等离子体片边界层和等离子体片区域都观测到大量来自电离层的尾向流事件.尾向流在赤道面附近最强，在夜侧较晨昏两侧强；尾向流有从晨昏两侧向夜侧运动的趋势；尾向流随距地球距离增加而逐渐增强.与来自中磁尾的地向流相比，近地磁尾近赤道区域来自电离层的尾向流具有低温高密特性.2004年7月1日至2004年10月31日期间TC 1卫星在近地磁尾（7RE～13RE之间，RE为地球半径）观测到持续时间超过3 min的尾向流共516起.对这516起尾向流的统计研究结果显示：（1）尾向流在从等离子体片边界层向等离子体片的运动过程中流速会逐渐减弱、密度逐渐增高，温度有逐渐下降的趋势；（2）对尾向流平行温度和垂直温度的分析显示不同等离子体区域的尾向流都有较明显的各向异性；（3）在从等离子体片边界层向等离子体片的运动过程中，尾向流逐渐趋向各向同性.     

基于SAMI2模式的电离层加热模拟

通过在SAMI2模式的电子能量方程中添加人工加热项,数值模拟了在加热条件下磁场线上电子温度与电子密度的扰动情况,并对比了不同加热条件下的扰动效应.结果表明,入射到电离层中的大功率无线电波与等离子体相互作用,能够有效造成整条磁场线上电子温度的升高而产生电子温度扰动,尤其是加热点处,温度可增加3倍多;由于电子温度升高,压力平衡受到破坏,引发等离子体扩散进而导致电子密度扰动;电子密度扰动使得垂直于磁场线的电子密度梯度发生变化,这有可能形成电离层管(Ionosphere duct);电子温度和电子密度的扰动幅度随着加热时间的推移而减小,即扰动逐渐趋于稳定.电子温度与密度的扰动与加热率存在一种非线性关系.     

Dipole magnetic-field disturbance and generation of current systems by asymmetric plasma pressure

Nonlinear disturbance of the dipole field by nonaxisymmetric plasma pressure distribution was analyzed under the assumption of magnetostatic equilibrium for finite values of the plasma parameter at the pressure maximum area. The distributions of isolines of the constant value of magnetic-field component B _Z and the volume of magnetic flux tube in the equatorial plane were obtained. At a finite plasma pressure, local minima and maxima of the magnetic field are formed. The formation of these local maxima and minima leads to the formation of contours (not surrounding the Earth) B _min = const, where B _min is the minimum magnetic field on the magnetic field line. This changes the direction of the gradient of the volume of the magnetic flux tube. The configuration of appearing field-aligned currents was determined. The results obtained are discussed in terms of their use in explaining a number of effects observed in the Earth’s magnetosphere.     

A plasma bulk motion in the midnight magnetosphere during auroral breakup inferred from all-sky image and magnetic field observations at geosynchronous altitudes

Auroral events that occurred on January 24, 1986 in central Canada were recorded by an all-sky TV imager. During these events, auroral breakup was confined to a region between two foot points of neighboring geosynchronous satellites, GOES5 and GOES6. We examined field line signatures at satellite locations in unique station distributions and concluded that field line observation indicated plasma motion in the equatorial plane. The plasma motion showed an earthward compression combined with bifurcation (duskward or dawnward displacement in dusk/dawn sectors). In addition, we were able to infer an elliptical circulation of plasmas in the equatorial plane at Pi2 periods. Appearance in opposite rotation beside the auroral region indicated excitation of surface waves. We were able to show that auroral breakups occurred at a meridian of bifurcation. We suggest that a high plasma pressure region occurring tailward of geosynchronous altitudes may drive those plasma motions.     

木卫二尾迹的数值模拟

木卫二在木星磁层中运动,与快速共转的木星磁场相互作用形成木星极光中木卫二的尾迹,此尾迹反映了连续扰动的磁通量管对木星电离层电流注入的过程.本文应用细丝理论对此过程进行数值模拟,未扰动的上游磁通量管经过大约720 s的时间与木卫二作用形成角度约为4°且相对于木卫二静止的拉伸磁通量管,随后在磁张力的作用下加速运动.在随后大约2160 s的加速时间内,磁通量管的速度逐渐与背景磁力线接近,向木星电离层注入的电流也由9×10⁵A逐渐衰减至0.以1/e初始电流处认为是可观测的木卫二尾迹限度,则木卫二的尾迹仅大约有一至两个经度,这与哈勃望远镜观测到的木卫二尾迹大小大致相同.木卫二尾迹与木卫一尾迹相比,输送的能量约为2.3×10¹³J,仅有木卫一的1/10,导致尾迹长度远小于木卫一的尾迹长度.此外,模拟过程中发现木卫二下游的压力槽对磁通量管运动的影响很小,可以忽略.     

On the remote sensing of plasma sheet from low-altitude spacecraft

The possibility to estimate plasma sheet parameters from low-altitude measurements looks quite attractive, but it critically depends on how isotropic the plasma pressure is in the flux tube. To evaluate the ion pressure anisotropy we compare the values of pressure in the ionospheric and equatorial parts of the field line. Ionospheric values were computed from proton measurements at NOAA low-altitude satellites, they were compared with pressure estimates computed from empirical magnetic field models as well as with average values known from direct plasma sheet measurements. Three different methods of mapping the plasma pressure from plasma sheet to low altitude have been tried; each uses the particle isotropic boundaries observed at low altitudes and/or computed from magnetospheric models. Excluding observations obtained during substorm expansion, from these comparisons we conclude that in the plasma sheet, at geocentric distances 9–20R_E, the pressure estimates in the ionospheric and equatorial parts of the plasma sheet flux tube agree very well, suggesting a good pressure isotropy and thus justifying a possibility to monitor the plasma sheet parameters based on low-altitude measurements. The results also illustrate the usefulness of isotropic boundaries as a label of tail current intensity and as reliable tool for establishing mapping between magnetosphere and ionosphere.     

Comparison of the plasma pressure distributions over the equatorial plane and at low altitudes under magnetically quiet conditions

The distribution of plasma pressure over the equatorial plane is compared with the plasma pressure and the position of the electron precipitation boundaries at low altitudes under the conditions of low geomagnetic activity. The pressure at the equatorial plane is determined using data of the THEMIS international five-satellite mission; the pressure at low altitudes, using data of the DMSP satellites. Plasma pressure isotropy and the validity of the condition of the magnetostatic equilibrium at a low level of geomagnetic activity are taken into account. Plasma pressure in such a case is constant along the magnetic field line and can be considered a “natural tracer” of the field line. It is shown that the plasma ring surrounding the Earth at geocentric distances of ～6 to ～10–12R _E is the main source of the precipitations in the auroral oval.     

Effects of spatial diffusion in the inner plasma sheet and the structure of the diffusion tensor

A standard pair of equations is used to describe the behaviour of a single monoenergetic particle (proton or electron) population on a geomagnetic flux tube drifting in the magnetosphere. When particle losses from the drifting flux tube into the ionosphere are neglected, this behaviour is adiabatic in a thermodynamic sense. For a population of particles with an isotropic pitch-angle distribution, the generalization of that system of equations is obtained by adding radial and azimuthal spatial diffusion terms. The magnetic field is taken to be dipolar in the inner magnetosphere. The potential electric field is assumed to consist of magnetospheric convection and corotation components. Experimental data are used to estimate the radial equatorial profiles of the plasma sheet pressure. Assuming that the local time and L-shell variations are separable and supposing steady-state conditions, the expressions for the diffusion tensor components are evaluated. The influence of spatial diffusion on the radial and azimuthal profiles of the plasma pressure in the inner plasma sheet is also discussed.     

遗传算法反演地球等离子体层离子密度分布

本文介绍了采用一维遗传算法从地球等离子体层极紫外图像反演地球等离子体层He⁺密度的原理.首先采用通量管近似和磁偶极近似将三维问题转化为一维问题.通过引入权矩阵,将极紫外光强积分离散为求和函数,再采用一维实数编码遗传算法反演得到磁赤道面等离子体层He⁺密度,最后通过磁力线追迹得到三维密度分布.算法采用动态全球核心等离子体模式模拟的密度和光强分布作为初始输入参数,并通过遗传算法得到相应密度分布.反演结果表明,等离子体层密度相对误差在8%以内,光强相对误差趋于0,算法有效可行.本文研究为中国探月二期工程中月基极紫外图像反演奠定了基础.     

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.     

Nonlinear phenomena related to the solar shock motion in the Earth’s magnetosphere

The motion of the MHD nonlinear shock in the Earth’s magnetosphere is considered in the scope of magnetic hydrodynamics. This wave comes from the solar wind and is refracted into the magnetosphere, generating a fast return rarefaction wave. It has been indicated that a wave refracted into the magnetosphere is a weak fast dissipative shock, propagating in magnetospheric plasma at a velocity higher than its propagation velocity in a solar wind stream. The wave motion near the Earth-Sun line with regard to the effect of the geomagnetic field transverse component is described. In this case, shock damping follows the generalized Crussard-Landau law and a wave retains its shock character up to the plasmapause, interacting with this region when an arbitrary MHD discontinuity is disintegrated. It is stated that an MHD shock loses its shock character when moving in a strongly inhomogeneous plasma within the plasmasphere and a weak shock reflected from the plasmapause can combine with a return secondary shock in the magnetosheath, promoting the experimentally observed backward motion of the bow shock front.