基于VAP卫星的等离子体层顶电子密度波动统计分析

基于范艾伦辐射带探测卫星的观测数据(2012年9月至2015年11月),收集了584个等离子体层顶密度波动事件,研究了这些事件分布随磁地方时、磁壳值以及地磁活动的变化关系,并使用快速傅里叶变换分析了全部事件平均功率谱.统计结果表明,等离子体层顶密度波动事件主要发生在磁地方时黄昏扇区,其分布与磁地方时和地磁活动具有明显的相关性.等离子体层顶密度波动在1～100mHz区间内具有接近-5/3的功率谱斜率,表明存在二维磁流体动力学湍流.本文统计结果将有助于进一步深入理解等离子体层顶密度波动在内磁层中能量传输的具体作用,并且将促进对等离子体层顶波动的激发、增强与传播过程的进一步研究.     

2005年8月24日磁暴主相期间亚暴过程的多卫星联合观测分析

本文根据OMNI、TC-2卫星、LANL系列卫星、Cluster星簇卫星(C1-C4)以及加拿大的8个中高纬地磁台站的观测数据,研究了2005年8月24日强磁暴(SYM-H_min~ -179 nT)主相期间的强亚暴(AL_min~ -4046 nT)事件特征.该强磁暴在大振幅(IMF B_{z min}~ -55.57 nT)、短持续时间(~90 min)的行星际磁场条件下产生,有明显的磁暴急始(SSC),强度较大且持续时间较短.发生在磁暴主相期间的亚暴发展的主要特征如下:亚暴增长相期间,C1-C4卫星先后穿越中心等离子体片;亚暴膨胀相触发后,在近地磁尾(X~-6R_E)可观测到磁场偶极化现象;等离子体无色散注入区在亚暴onset开始后迅速沿经向扩展,但被限制在有限的经度范围;磁纬60°附近,Pi2地磁脉动振幅超过了100 nT.膨胀相开始后,在中、高磁纬地磁台站可观测到负湾扰,近地磁尾可观测到Pi2空间脉动,中磁尾区域可观测到尾向流、磁重联以及O⁺/H⁺数密度比值在亚暴onset之后增大等现象.分析表明该强磁暴主相期间的强亚暴现象发生时序是自内向外:X~-6R_E处TC-2观测到磁场偶极化(~09:42:30 UT),同步轨道卫星LANL1994-084观测到等离子体无色散注入(~09:44:30 UT),X~-17.8R_E处C1观测到磁场重联(~09:45:30 UT),由此推断该亚暴事件很可能是近地磁尾不稳定性触发产生,其发生区域距离地球很近.     

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.     

极光亚暴期间的南极中山站地磁共轭点位置研究

通过对北极斯瓦尔巴特( Svalbard )岛Longyearbyen台站的 极光扫描光度计和地磁 观测数据在地磁亚暴膨胀相期间的对比分析,发现扫描光度计记录中的极光边缘的快速极向 运动和地磁数据x分量的陡峭负弯之间有着良好的对应关系,地磁数据可用来研究两极 高纬 地区极光亚暴的地磁共轭特征. 对南极中山站、挪威Troms Svalbard台链和东格陵兰岛 地 区共15个地磁台站在7个典型极光亚暴事件中的地磁数据进行对比分析后发现, 中山站的地 磁共轭点位置存在明显的漂移特征,漂移的范围在斯瓦尔巴特岛与东格陵兰岛之间,纬度值 与CGM模型值近似.     

磁尾地向传播等离子体团的模拟研究

卫星观测证实了磁尾等离子体团与亚暴活动的相关性,除了具有北-南双极特征的尾向传播等离子体团外,还发现地向传播等离子体团,它们表现为南-北双极中性片事件和南-北双极瓣区讯号. 资料分析表明:南-北双极讯号的出现几率远低于北-南双极讯号,并且南-北双极事件主要发生于行星际磁场北向和地磁宁静条件,它们往往与小的孤立的地磁亚暴相关. 本文根据地磁宁静时期(IMF Bz北向且By≥Bz)越尾电场Ey分量的分布特点,对地向传播等离子体团作模拟研究. 两类算例的数值结果展示了通量绳磁结构及具有复杂闭合磁力线位形的等离子体团的基本特征,上述特征与尾向传播的等离子体团类似,与IMP 8卫星关于地向传播南-北中性片事件的观测特征大致相符. 数值结果还展示了与Schindler示意图相类似的磁力线拓扑位形,在一定程度上为南-北事件出现几率低作出了解释;并且揭示了磁尾中性片内越尾磁场分量By对磁重联发展的抑制作用. 本文的模拟研究说明:无论磁尾处于活动时期(IMF Bz为南向),还是宁静时期(IMF Bz为北向且By≥Bz),磁场重联均是磁尾等离子体加速和加热的通用机制.     

基于范阿伦双星EMFISIS观测数据的NWC和NAA人工甚低频台站信号的内磁层全球统计分布

地球表面的人工甚低频台站信号可以穿透电离层泄漏进地球磁层导致内辐射带电子沉降到两极大气.因此研究人工甚低频台站信号的空间全球分布特性对于分析辐射带电子的损失具有重要科学意义.本文使用范阿伦双星从2013年到2018年共计6年的高质量的波动观测数据,统计了 NWC(19.8 kHz)、NAA(24.0 kHz)两个人工VLF台站信号的全球分布,分析了台站信号的电场功率谱密度对地理经纬度、磁壳值L、磁地方时MLT、地磁活动水平的依赖性.结果表明,在内磁层中,人工台站VLF信号主要沿着台站位置对应的磁力线传播,夜侧强度高于日侧,冬季高于夏季.这种日夜和夏冬差异的形成是因为夜侧和冬季的日照强度较弱,电离层电子密度较低,VLF信号较容易穿透电离层进入磁层.此外人工VLF台站信号的全球分布受地磁活动的影响很弱.这些统计观测结果给出了 NWC和NAA两个重要人工VLF台站信号强度的全球分布特征,为进一步分析人工VLF台站信号与地球辐射带电子的波粒相互作用提供了关键信息.     

地球磁尾等离子体片磁洞的统计分析

本文利用THEMIS卫星的磁场数据和等离子体观测数据,统计分析地球磁尾等离子体片区域线性磁洞的发生率、时空尺度、分布特征、和发生率与地磁AE指数的相关性.分析结果表明磁尾等离子体片区域的磁洞的时间尺度为几秒到几十秒,空间尺度小于当地的质子回旋半径.通过磁洞在空间的位置分布和卫星数据在空间的数据采样分布的对比,我们发现线性磁洞在等离子体片内经常发生,然而在磁尾等离子体片中的发生率要小于太阳风中磁洞的发生率.本文最后统计分析了磁洞发生和AE指数的相关性,结果表明磁洞可能与地磁活动有关系.     

基于NOAA/POES卫星观测的磁层相对论电子起源的初探

本文利用低高度极轨卫星NOAA/POES的观测数据，并结合ACE卫星和Polar卫星的观测结果，研究分析了磁层相对论电子的起源. NOAA/POES卫星对于不同地磁活动时期相对论电子的分布和起源进行了较为详细观测, 分析结果表明（1） 亚暴期间注入磁层的能量电子可以为与磁暴相关的磁层高能电子暴提供种子电子；（2）太阳质子事件期间太阳风中的能量电子也可以为磁层中的相对论电子提供所需要的源.     

地球等离子体层顶与地磁活动的关系研究

本文利用IMAGE卫星EUV相机观测的等离子体层图像，并采用最小L算法反演磁赤道面等离子体层顶位置.文中选取了2000-2002年间的3579幅等离子体层图像，并反演得到了时间间隔为1 h的等离子体层顶位置数据库，包含48899个等离子体层顶位置数据.利用该数据库统计研究了等离子体层顶位形随地磁活动的变化特性.统计发现等离子体层顶高度依赖地磁活动，与地磁指数Kp、Dst和AE均呈负相关，且等离子体层顶随地磁指数的变化趋势具有显著的MLT分布特性；亚暴活动对等离子体层顶演化的贡献在不同地磁活动期间有所不同，磁暴期间亚暴活动的贡献小，而地磁平静期亚暴的贡献大.本文研究工作为后续建立等离子体层顶模型和了解等离子体层顶的动态结构提供了重要研究基础.     

磁层亚暴扩展相的数值模拟

本文用多步隐格式方法,求解包含电阻的磁流体力学方程组,对磁层亚暴扩展相作数值模拟.计算结果展现了亚暴扩展相期间磁尾变化的主要特征.它表明,球向和尾向等离子体流与准稳态重联有关.等离子体团的尾向喷发,致使中性线尾侧电流片内的密度降低,等离子体片变薄.中性线近地侧的等离子体团朝着地球运动,并合并于地球附近的重联区内.     

Non-stationary Alfvén resonator: new results on Pc1 pearls and IPDP events

We analyse a Pc1 pearl event observed by the Finnish search-coil magnetometer network on 15 December 1984, which subsequently developed into a structured IPDP after a substorm onset. The EISCAT radar was simultaneously monitoring the mid- to high-latitude ionosphere. We have calculated the ionospheric resonator properties during the different phases of the event using EISCAT observations. Contrary to the earlier results, we find that the Pc1/IPDP (Interval of Pulsations of Diminishing Period) frequency observed on the ground corresponds to the maximum of the transmission coefficient rather than that of the reflection coefficient. This casts strong doubts on the bouncing wave packet model of Pc1 pearls. Instead, we present evidence for an alternative model of pearl formation in which long-period ULF waves modulate the Pc1 growth rate. Moreover, we propose a new model for IPDP formation, whereby the ionosphere acts as an active agent in forming the IPDP signal on the ground. The model calculations show that the ionospheric resonator properties can be modified during the event so that the resonator eigenfrequency increases according to the observed frequency increase during the IPDP phase. We suggest that the IPDP signal on the ground is a combined effect of the frequency increase in the magnetospheric wave source and the simultaneous increase of the resonator eigenfrequency. The need for such a complicated matching of the two factors explains the rarity of IPDPs on the ground despite the ubiquitous occurrence of EMIC waves in the magnetosphere and the continuous substorm cycle.     

Global distribution of energetic proton precipitations equatorward of the boundary of isotropic fluxes

Based on data of the NOAA POES satellite, the global distribution of the occurrence rate of precipitations of energetic protons (E > 30 keV) equatorward of the boundary of isotropic fluxes has been constructed for the first time. It has been shown that the occurrence rate of proton precipitations inside the zone of anisotropic fluxes is maximum in daytime hours (1100–1600 MLT) at latitudes L = 6–9 and decreases in evening and morning hours. Comparison of the obtained results about proton precipitations with the spatial distribution of the occurrence rate of electromagnetic ion–cyclotron (EMIC) waves in the equatorial magnetosphere according to results of satellite observations demonstrates a close relationship between them. This corroborates that precipitations of energetic protons equatorward of the boundary of isotropic fluxes are a consequence of the development of the ion–cyclotron instability in the equatorial magnetosphere.     

Features of poleward expansion of the outer radiation belt during magnetospheric substorms

Cases in which the outer boundary of the electron belt shifts to high latitudes are studied. The cases evidence that the zone of quasi-trapping of the night magnetosphere expands to the pole. These events are shown to be caused by substorm activity which, shifting to high latitudes, can lead to the development of so-called polar-cap substorms. It is shown that high-latitude bursts of energetic electrons can be generated in such substorms by analogy with their generation in classical substorms of the auroral zone.     

波粒相互作用导致环电流质子沉降的卫星共轭观测

波粒相互作用是环电流损失的重要机制之一,但波粒相互作用导致的环电流离子沉降而损失迄今为止缺乏直接的观测证据.基于磁层及电离层卫星的协同观测,本文报道了发生在2015年9月7日,由电磁离子回旋波(EMIC波)导致环电流质子沉降的共轭观测事件.在等离子体层的内边界,Van Allen Probe B卫星观测到,存在EMIC波的区域和不存在EMIC波的区域相比,离子通量的投掷角分布的各向异性变弱.我们将Van Allen Probe B卫星沿着磁力线投影到电离层高度,同时在该投影区域内DMSP 16卫星在亚极光区域观测到环电流质子沉降.而且,通过从理论上计算质子弹跳平均扩散系数,我们进一步证实观测的EMIC波确实能将环电流质子散射到损失锥中.本文的研究工作为EMIC波导致环电流质子沉降提供了直接的观测证据,揭示了环电流衰减的重要物理机制:EMIC波将环电流质子散射到损失锥中,从而沉降到低高度大气层中而损失.     

Multipoint observations of Pi2 pulsations and correlation with dynamic processes in the near-Earth magnetotail on March 18, 2009

Simultaneous measurements from THEMIS spacecraft,GOES-11 and ground stations(Canadian Array for Realtime Investigations of Magnetic Activity or CARISMA,and 210°magnetic meridian or MM)on March 18,2009 allow the study of dynamic processes in the near-Earth magnetotail and corresponding Pi2 pulsations on the ground in great detail.Fast earthward flows along with traveling Alfvén waves and fast mode waves in the Pi2 band were observed by three Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms(THEMIS)probes(P3,P4 and P5)in the near-Earth plasmasheet.At the mid-to high-latitude nightside,the CARISMA stations located near the foot points of the three probes recorded Pi2s with two periods,about 80 s after the earthward fast flows observed by the P4 probe.The long-period Pi2(140–150 s)belongs to the transient response Pi2(TR Pi2),since the travel time of the Alfvén waves between the plasma sheet and CARISMA stations is very close to half the period of the long-period Pi2.The short-period Pi2(60–80 s)has the same period band as the perpendicular velocity of the fast flows,which indicates that it may relate to the inertial current caused by periodic braking of the earthward fast flows.The 210°MM stations located at the low-latitude duskside also observed Pi2s with the same start time,waveform and frequency,about~120 s after the earthward fast flows.Strong poloidal oscillations are shown by GOES-11(~23 MLT)and the compressional component(Bb)is highly correlated with H components of the 210°MM stations,whereas the other two components(Br and Be)are not.These results confirm that the low-latitude Pi2s are generated by cavity mode resonance,which is driven by an impulsive broadband source in the near-Earth magnetotail.     

Generation of EMIC Waves in the Magnetosphere and Precipitation of Energetic Protons: Comparison of the Data from THEMIS High Earth Orbiting Satellites and POES Low Earth Orbiting Satellites

Regions of the detection of electromagnetic ion-cyclotron (EMIC) waves on the THEMIS satellites near the equatorial plane and the precipitation of energetic protons on POES low Earth orbiting satellites are compared with the magnetospheric magnetic field model. It is confirmed that low Earth orbiting satellites detect the precipitation of energetic protons in the regon associated with observations of EMIC waves in the magnetosphere. This is consistent with the idea that protons are scattered in the loss cone as a result of ioncyclotron interaction. Thus, observations of fluxes of energetic protons in low Earth orbits can be used to monitor ion-cyclotron instability regions in the magnetosphere. Simultaneous observations at high and low Earth orbits contribute to the construction of a spatiotemporal pattern of the interaction region of EMIC waves and energetic protons. In addition, it is shown that proton precipitation associated with EMIC waves can cause errors in determining the latitude of the isotropic boundary (the equatorial boundary of isotropic fluxes of energetic protons), which is an indicator of the configuration of the magnetic field in the magnetosphere.     

Solar wind induced processes in the magnetotail

Solar wind/IMF parameters and their variations influence the state and dynamics of the magnetosphere in several different ways, and the plasma sheet plays its own active role to form the magnetotail’s rssponse to external driving. This field is still quite conrtoversial; key unsolved issues are those which probably involve the nonsteady, nonequilibrium and nonlinear character of the system. This paper discusses an interesting development of concepts concerning (1) plasma sheet convection, (2) mechanisms which initiate the substorm onset, and (3) variability of tail dynamics. A remarkable example is a recognition of Bursty Bulk Flows as a basic way for the plasma sheet to sustain the convective transport of plasma, energy and magnetic flux via transient mesoscale dynamic structures. As concerns the substorm onset, the sharp change from the magnetic reconnection (NEL) model to processes in the dipolar-like near tail is now moving into a synthetic stage. Hear non-linear models of different coupled instabilities are actively explored to find a way to excite the tearing mode starting from a singular thin current sheet configuration which seems to form in the near tail prior to breakup. Variable responses to external drivers and the variability of substorms compel a recognition of the magnetotail as a very complicated nonlinear open system which includes a heirarchy of coupled process of different scales. A unique fleet of magnetospheric spacecraft, simultaneously probing different domains and supported by extensive ground observations, global imaging and solar wind monitoring, noe provides a real chance to understand the magnetotail as a global dynamic system.     

Outflowing ionospheric oxygen-ion motion in a reconfigurating magnetosphere

During substorms, large-scale changes of the topology of the Earths magnetosphere following the variation of the characteristics of the interplanetary medium are accompanied by the induction of the electric field. In this study a model of a time-dependent magnetosphere is constructed and the large-scale features of the induced electric field are described. Local-time sectors with upward or downward field-aligned component and with intense perpendicular component of the electric field are distinguished. The electric-field structure implies the existence of outflow regions particularly effective in ion energization. With the vector potential adopted in the study, the region from which the most energized ions originate is defined by the local-time sector near 2100 MLT and latitude zone near 71° MLAT. The motion of ionospheric oxygen ions of energy 0.3–3 keV is investigated during a 5-min reconfiguration event when the tail-like magneto-spheric field relaxes to the dipole-like field. As the characteristics of plasma in the regions near the equatorial plane affect the substorm evolution, the energy, pitch angle, and the magnetic moment of ions in these regions are analyzed. These quantities depend on the initial energy and pitch angle of the ion and on the magnetic and electric field it encounters on its way. With the vector potential adopted, the energy attained in the equatorial regions can reach hundreds of keV. Three regimes of magnetic-moment changes are identified: adiabatic, oscillating, and monotonous, depending on the ion initial energy and pitch angle and on the magnetic- and electric-field spatial and temporal scales. The implications for the global substorm dynamics are discussed.     

Injection of relativistic electrons into the internal magnetosphere during magnetic storms: Connection with substorms

The connection between rapid increases in the intensity of electrons with energies >0.3 MeV and magnetospheric substorms was studied for the first time by measurements of energetic electrons on the low-orbit SERVIS-1 satellite. In addition to the well-known process of radial diffusion detected at the recovery phase, the increases during a period of time no longer than 1.5 h at the main phase of six magnetic storms in a channel of 0.3–1.7 MeV (in three of them, in a channel of 1.7–3.4 MeV) were measured. An analysis of auroral zone magnetograms demonstrated that the increases occurred at the instant of magnetospheric substorm activation. A conclusion is made that the increases are caused by the radial injection of electrons by a pulse electric field induced during substorm activations. Pulse injections are shown to be one of the main mechanisms of electron radiation belt completion in the inner magnetosphere and, in combination with moderate radial diffusion, to be responsible for the appearance of large fluxes of energetic electrons (“killers”) in the magnetosphere after magnetic storms.     

First 10 min intervals of Pi2 onset at geosynchronous altitudes during the expansion of energetic ion regions in the nighttime sector

We examined the temporal variations of the geomagnetic field and energetic ions at geosynchronous altitudes associated with substorms during the nighttime using a superposed epoch analysis timed by Pi2 onset. We focused on the first 10 min intervals of Pi2 onset and on subsequent intervals to study the substorm expansion. We conclude that the first 10 min interval of Pi2 onset is a transitional state of the substorm dominated by MHD processes associated with earthward flow and its bifurcation. Intervals of field line variations following the first 10 min were well organized by dipolarization (substorm current wedge) due to the reduced cross-tail current. We also show that energetic ion regions localized in the local time sector from 2000 to 0000 LT in the first 10 min intervals of Pi2 onset expanded to the post-midnight sector, reaching 0400 LT within 20 min after Pi2 onset. We conclude that the expansion of the energetic plasma regions can be attributed to the inflation of the inner magnetosphere during dipolarization.