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.     

Dynamics of solar protons in the Earth’s magnetosphere during magnetic storms in November 2004–January 2005

The processes of penetration, trapping, and acceleration of solar protons in the Earth’s magneto-sphere during magnetic storms in November 2004 and January 2005 are studied based on the energetic particle measurements on the CORONAS-F and SERVIS-1 satellites. Acceleration of protons by 1–2 orders of magnitude was observed after trapping of solar protons with an energy of 1–15 MeV during the recovery phase of the magnetic storm of November 7–8, 2004. This acceleration was accompanied by an earthward shift of the particle flux maximum for several days, during which the series of magnetic storms continued. The process of relativistic electron acceleration proceeded simultaneously and according to a similar scenario including acceleration of protons. At the end of this period, the intensification was terminated by the process of precipitation, and a new proton belt split with the formation of two maximums at L ～ 2 and 3. In the January 2005 series of moderate storms, solar protons were trapped at L = 3.7 during the storm of January 17–18. However, during the magnetic storm of January 21, these particles fell in the zone of quasi-trapping, or precipitated into the atmosphere, or died in the magnetosheath. At the same time, the belts that were formed in November at L ～ 2 and 3 remained unchanged. Transformations of the proton (and electron) belts during strong magnetic storms change the intensity and structure of belts for a long time. Thus, the consequences of changes during the July 2004 storm did not disappear until November disturbances.     

带电粒子穿入地磁場的一种机制（一）

自从辛格用輻射带內电性粒子运动所形成的电流环,成功地解释磁暴主相形成的机制以来,这些带电粒子的来源就成为磁暴主相理論的一个重要問題。本文以两度空間双曲线磁場,对带电粒子的軌道进行初步計算表明:由于貭子和电子的反射方向不同,在中性点附近可以形成由东向西的极化电場。在这个电場的作用下,带电粒子的飘移运动可以通过中性点穿入地磁层而被捕获。据初步估計,我們的計算与帕克尔等的理論結果相符,并可以解释磁暴主相。     

Solar proton increases and dynamics of the electron outer radiation belt during solar events in December 2006

Increases in solar protons and variations in the electron and proton fluxes from the outer radiation belt are studied based on the GLONASS satellite measurements (the circular orbit at an altitude of ～20000 km with an inclination of ～65°) performed in December 2006. Indications in the channels, registered protons with energies of Ep = 3–70 MeV and electrons with energies of Ee > 0.04 and >0.8 MeV, are analyzed. The data on electrons with Ee = 0.8–1.2 MeV, measured on the Express-A3 geostationary satellite, are also presented. Before the strong magnetic storm of December 14 (|Dst|_max = 146 nT), the maximum of the outer belt electrons with the energy >0.7 MeV was observed at L ～ 4.5. After the storm, the fluxes of these electrons increased by more than an order of magnitude as compared to the prestorm level, and the maximum of a “new” belt shifted to L < 4 (minimal L reached by the GLONASS orbit). Under quiet geomagnetic conditions, solar protons with the energies >3 MeV fill only high-latitude legs of the GLONASS orbit. During the strong magnetic storm of December 15, the boundary of proton penetration into the magnetosphere almost merged with the orbital maximum of the proton radiation belt.     

Diagnostics of the magnetosphere based on the outer belt relativistic electrons and penetration of solar protons: A review

The present-day state of the studies of the outer radiation belt relativistic electrons and the boundary of the solar proton penetration into the magnetosphere during magnetic storms is briefly reviewed. The main attention is paid to the results from studying the interrelation between these structural formations and other magnetospheric plasma structures. It has been indicated that the relationship between the position of the maximum of belt of relativistic electrons injected during magnetic storms (L _max) and the magnetic storm amplitude (|Dst|_max = 2.75 × 10⁴/L _max⁴) can be used to predict the extreme latitudinal position of such magnetospheric plasma formations as a trapped radiation region boundary, the nighttime equatorial boundary of the auroral oval, and westward electrojet center during a storm. Using the examples of still rare studies of the solar proton boundary dynamics in the magnetosphere based on the simultaneous measurements on several polar satellites, it has been demonstrated that a change in the geomagnetic field topology during magnetic storms can be diagnosed.     

2003年Hallowe′en磁暴后新质子带形成和损失机制的研究

本文利用低高度极轨卫星NOAA/POES的观测数据,对2003年Hallowe'en磁暴期间新质子带的形成和损失机制做了细致的研究和分析. 结果表明新质子带的形成是诸多因素共同作用的结果,包括强太阳质子事件（Solar Proton Events, SPEs）、大的地磁暴和行星际激波.所有这些因素构成了新质子带形成的前提条件,尤其是行星际激波是形成新质子带不可缺少的因素.此外本文提出了磁暴主相对高能质子注入磁层稳定捕获区起到重要贡献.本文还运用绝热捕获判据分析了新质子带的损失机制,证明了由于磁暴期间环电流积累造成磁场大的扰动, 破坏绝热不变量的守恒,导致新质子带粒子的损失.     

Relationship of the Van Allen radiation belts to solar wind drivers

Discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts by instrumentation flown on Explorer 1 in 1958 was the first major discovery of the Space Age. A view of the belts as distinct inner and outer zones of energetic particles with different sources was modified by observations made during the Cycle 22 maximum in solar activity in 1989–1991, the first approaching the activity level of the International Geophysical Year of 1957–1958. The dynamic variability of outer zone electrons was measured by the NASA–Air Force Combined Radiation Release and Effects Satellite launched in July 1990. This variability is caused by distinct types of heliospheric structure which vary with the solar cycle. The largest fluxes averaged over a solar rotation occur during the declining phase from solar maximum, when high-speed streams and co-rotating interaction regions (CIRs) dominate the inner heliosphere, leading to recurrent storms. Intense episodic events driven by high-speed interplanetary shocks launched by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) prevail around solar maximum when CMEs occur most frequently. Only about half of moderate storms, defined by intensity of the ring current, lead to an overall flux increase, emphasizing the need to quantify loss as well as source processes; both increase when the magnetosphere is strongly driven. Three distinct types of acceleration are described in this review: prompt and diffusive radial transport, which increases energy while conserving the first invariant, and local acceleration by waves, which change the first invariant. The latter also produce pitch angle diffusion and loss, as does outward radial transport, especially when the magnetosphere is compressed. The effect of a dynamic magnetosphere boundary on radiation belt electrons is described in the context of MHD-test particle simulations driven by measured solar wind input.     

Two-Dimensional Phenomenological Model of Ring Current Dynamics in the Earth’s Magnetosphere

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - The dynamics of ring current protons with variable boundary conditions in the inner magnetosphere during a magnetic storm has been studied. The spatial and temporal...     

Two observed consequences of penetration electric fields

The influence of penetration electric fields (PEF) on storm-time energetic particles in the inner magnetosphere and on the stability of plasma in the low-latitude ionosphere is widely recognized. We describe two consequences of PEFs, regularly observed during magnetic storms that indicate their persistence throughout the main phases. These are (1) the presence of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPB) across the evening local time sector during main phases and their absence throughout recovery, and (2) detections of low-energy ion precipitation in the dawn sector equatorward of the auroral electron boundary.     

Proton interaction with quasi-electrostatic whistler mode waves in an inhomogeneous plasma (magnetosphere)

We study the interaction between energetic protons of the Earth’s radiation belts and quasi-electrostatic whistler mode waves. The nature of these waves is well known: whistler waves, which are excited in the magnetosphere due to cyclotron instability, enter the resonant regime of propagation and become quasielectrostatic, while their amplitude significantly increases. Far enough from the equator where proton gyrofrequency and transversal velocity increase the nonlinear interaction between these waves and energetic protons becomes possible. We show that plasma inhomogeneity may destroy cyclotron resonance between wave and proton on the time scale of the order of particle gyroperiod which in fact means the absence of cyclotron resonance; nevertheless, the interaction between waves and energetic particles remains nonlinear. In this case, particle dynamics in the phase space has the character of diffusion; however, the diffusion coefficients are determined by the averaged amplitude of the wave field, but not by its resonant harmonics. For real parameters of the waves and magnetospheric plasma, proton pitch-angle diffusion leading to their precipitation from the magnetosphere becomes essential.     

Structure of the latitudinal profile of solar cosmic rays in the Earth’s magnetosphere during substorm activity on October 26–27, 2003

The structure of penetration of solar cosmic rays (SCRs) with energies of 1–100 MeV into the Earth’s magnetosphere before a strong magnetic storm of October 29–31, 2003, is studied based on the CORONAS-F satellite data. The effect of north-south asymmetry was observed in the polar caps for more than 12 h, which made it possible to study the dynamics of the boundary between the polar cap (the magnetotail) and the auroral zone (the quasi-trapping region). A previously unknown effect of dropouts in the SCR intensity latitudinal profile during the substorm active phases has been detected in the auroral magnetosphere. The mechanism by which dropouts are formed owing to the local distortion of the magnetic field line configuration, resulting in radial diffusion of particles from this region, has been proposed.     

Verification of magnetic field models based on measurements of solar cosmic ray protons in the magnetosphere

Measurements of solar cosmic ray (SCR) protons in the magnetosphere can be used to verify models of the Earth’s magnetic field. The latitudinal profiles of precipitating SCRs with energies of 1–90 MeV were measured on the CORONAS-F low-orbiting satellite during a strong magnetic storm on October 29–30, 2003. A flux of precipitating protons can remain equal to the interplanetary flux only due to a strong pitch angle diffusion that originates when the radius of the field line curvature is close to that of the particle rotation Larmor radius. The observed boundaries of the strong diffusion region can be compared with the boundaries anticipated according to the models of the magnetic field of the Earth’s magnetosphere. The adiabaticity parameter values, calculated for several instants of the CORONAS-F satellite pass based on the TS05 and parabolic models, do not always correspond to measurements. How possible changes in the model configurations of the magnetic field can allow us to eliminate discrepancies with the experiment and to explain why solar protons with energies of several megaelectronvolts penetrate deep in the Earth’s inner magnetosphere is considered here.     

Erosion of the inner magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms

Using the empirical magnetic field model dependent on the Dst index and solar wind dynamic pressure, we calculated the behaviour of the contour B = B_s in the equatorial plane of the magnetosphere where B_s is the magnetic field in the subsolar point at the magnetopause. The inner domain of the magnetosphere outlined by this contour contains the bulk of geomag-netically trapped particles. During quiet time the boundary of the inner magnetosphere passes at the distance ∼10R_E at noon and at ∼7R_E at midnight. During very intense storms this distance can be reduced to 4–5 R_E for all MLT. The calculation results agree well with the satellite measurements of the magneto-pause location during storms. The ionospheric projection of the B = B_s contour calculated with the Euler potential technique is close to the equatorward edge of the auroral oval.     

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.     

等离子体片离子分界线的模拟研究

等离子体片离子向内磁层的渗透在亚暴和磁暴过程中都起到了重要作用.以往对于等离子体片离子向内磁层的渗透都是通过固定磁矩的磁层离子漂移轨道理论来进行的.本文将过去的(U,B)空间中固定磁矩的磁层离子漂移轨道理论扩展为固定能量的磁层离子漂移轨道理论,讨论了等离子体片质子在向地球输运过程中,不同能量的质子开放轨道和封闭轨道的分界线的特性,及其随Kp指数的变化.在高能端,随着能量的升高,等离子体片质子分界线地心距离逐渐增大,且分界线的晨侧地心距离远远大于昏侧的地心距离.在低能端,随着质子能量的降低,质子分界线地心距离逐渐增大,且其分界线的昏侧地心距离要大于晨侧的地心距离.模拟结果还显示随着Kp指数的增强,等离子体片中不同能量的质子分界线都向地球移动.但在低能端和高能端,质子分界线的行为是不一样的.在低能端,随着Kp指数的增大,质子内边界形状基本保持不变.但在高能端,随着Kp指数的增大,质子内边界形状也将发生变化.在E=20 keV,Kp=6和E=10 keV,Kp=3两种情况,质子分界线甚至出现了两个分离的区域,一个是环绕地球的封闭轨道区域,一个是晨侧孤立的锥型区域.等离子体片能量为E的质子的内边界就是具有不同磁矩的Alfven层上能量为E的点的连线.TC-1热离子谱仪对等离子体片离子内边界的观测显示模拟结果与观测结果符合得很好.     

Exact solutions of magnetohydrodynamics for describing different structural disturbances in solar wind

We use analytical methods of magnetohydrodynamics to describe the behavior of cosmic plasma. This approach makes it possible to describe different structural fields of disturbances in solar wind: shock waves, direction discontinuities, magnetic clouds and magnetic holes, and their interaction with each other and with the Earth’s magnetosphere. We note that the wave problems of solar–terrestrial physics can be efficiently solved by the methods designed for solving classical problems of mathematical physics. We find that the generalized Riemann solution particularly simplifies the consideration of secondary waves in the magnetosheath and makes it possible to describe in detail the classical solutions of boundary value problems. We consider the appearance of a fast compression wave in the Earth’s magnetosheath, which is reflected from the magnetosphere and can nonlinearly overturn to generate a back shock wave. We propose a new mechanism for the formation of a plateau with protons of increased density and a magnetic field trough in the magnetosheath due to slow secondary shock waves. Most of our findings are confirmed by direct observations conducted on spacecrafts (WIND, ACE, Geotail, Voyager-2, SDO and others).     

Interplanetary medium condition effects in the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly: A case study

One way to investigate the magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling is through the simultaneous observation of different parameters measured at different locations of the geospace environment and try to determine some relationships among them. The main objective of this work is to examine how the solar energetic particles and the interplanetary medium conditions may affect the space and time configuration of the ring current at low-latitudes and also to get a better understanding on how these particles interfere with the lower ionosphere in the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly region (SAMA). To accomplish this, the cosmic noise absorption (CNA) and the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field data measured from sites located in the SAMA region were compared with the proton and electron fluxes, interplanetary medium conditions (solar wind and the north–south component of the interplanetary magnetic field measured on board satellites), the SYM-H index and magnetometer data from Kakioka (KAK-Japan), located significantly outside the SAMA region. The time series analyzed correspond to the geomagnetic disturbance that occurred on August 25–30, 1998. The analysis was performed by implementing wavelet techniques, with particular attention to singularities detection, which highlights the presence of transient signals. The results are discussed in terms of the first three wavelet decomposition levels of the parameters. The magnitude of wavelet coefficients of the solar wind and proton flux at the two energy ranges analyzed is timely well correlated, indicating that these two signals are energetically linked. The larger wavelet coefficient amplitude of KAK and VSS magnetograms shows time delays that are compatible with an asymmetric configuration of the ring current, considering that at the storm time, VSS was at the dawn sector of the magnetosphere and KAK at the dusk side. The wavelet analysis of CNA signals reveals that the signal may be sensitive to the ionization produced by energetic electrons and protons as well. The time delays observed in wavelet coefficients may give an indication of the different accelerating process to which the particles are submitted when traveling along the magnetic field lines, from higher to lower latitudes, and the likely contribution of these particles to the ionization measured as an absorption of the cosmic noise in the lower ionosphere.     

地磁捕获区及某些空間相关現象的非軸对称形状

理论研究与高空探测结果表明,地磁层的边界在太阳风的作用下将发生形变,形成一个水滴式的界面。本文讨论了带电粒子在这样一个磁层內的运动,以及它与某些非轴对称的空间物理相关现象的关系。由于带电粒子在形变后的地磁場內的运动是比较复杂的,因此我们只讨论这些粒子的迴旋中心在整个漂移运动中所在的卢等于常数的漂移曲面。计算结果表明,磁层內捕获区的立体图形相对于磁轴来说是非轴对称的,向阳面此背阳面大,这个结果与人造卫星的採测结果以及极光日变化的资料是很接近的。与此同时,我们还统计了1957与1958年高纬度区31个地磁台在平靜时每天的平均日变化。所有上述结果表明,在磁层內的上述相关现象都是非轴对称的。     

暴时内辐射带高能质子的损失和恢复机制探究

我们利用NOAA17卫星对内辐射带高能质子的观测结果研究了大磁暴期间内辐射带质子通量的变化过程.我们发现内辐射带质子出现两种不同的暴时损失事件.在大磁暴发生时,内辐射带外边界质子通量会迅速减小,然后缓慢恢复;而在内辐射带中心区的质子通量(即南大西洋异常区(SAA)质子通量最大值)的暴时变化表现为质子通量的一个迅速的减小和迅速恢复.内辐射带外边界的损失事件主要发生在较低能量质子能档,而内辐射带中心处的损失事件发生在所有质子能档.两种损失事件中质子通量的不同变化意味着内辐射带质子可能有不同的损失和产生机制.通过分析,我们认为内辐射带外边界处质子通量损失事件主要由磁场曲率散射机制造成,而其恢复机制主要是宇宙线反照中子衰变(CRAND).内辐射带中心区(即南大西洋异常区质子通量最大处)质子通量损失事件可能与Dst效应有关.     

Cluster Observes the High-Altitude CUSP Region

This paper gives an overview of Cluster observations in the high-altitude cusp region of the magnetosphere. The low and mid-altitude cusps have been extensively studied previously with a number of low-altitude satellites, but only little is known about the distant part of the magnetospheric cusps. During the spring-time, the trajectory of the Cluster fleet is well placed for dayside, high-altitude magnetosphere investigations due to its highly eccentric polar orbit. Wide coverage of the region has resulted and, depending on the magnetic dipole tilt and the solar wind conditions, the spacecraft are susceptible to encounter: the plasma mantle, the high-altitude cusp, the dayside magnetosphere (i.e. dayside plasma sheet) and the distant exterior cusp diamagnetic cavity. The spacecraft either exit into the magnetosheath through the dayside magnetopause or through the exterior cusp–magnetosheath interface. This paper is based on Cluster observations made during three high-altitude passes. These were chosen because they occurred during different solar wind conditions and different inter-spacecraft separations. In addition, the dynamic nature of the cusp allowed all the aforementioned regions to be sampled with different order, duration and characteristics. The analysis deals with observations of: (1) both spatial and temporal structures at high-altitudes in the cusp and plasma mantle, (2) signatures of possible steady reconnection, flux transfer events (FTE) and plasma transfer events (PTE), (3) intermittent cold (<100 eV) plasma acceleration associated with both plasma penetration and boundary motions, (4) energetic ions (5–40 keV) in the exterior cusp diamagnetic cavity and (5) the global structure of the exterior cusp and its direct interface with the magnetosheath. The analysis is primarily focused on ion and magnetic field measurements. By use of these recent multi-spacecraft Cluster observations we illustrate the current topics under debate pertaining to the solar wind–magnetosphere interaction, for which this region is known to be of major importance.