Multiple bipolar structure of normal magnetic field at the magnetopause

We describe how a local plasma structure can be changed by a transverse shear flow using numerical simulation to investigate the disturbance process near the magnetopause. The results show that magnetic field lines are bent by transverse shear flow disturbance near the current sheet region. There are multiple bipolar structures of the normal magnetic field in the numerical simulation. We term this new feature as K-point magnetic reconnection, realistic for discussing space observations.     

2001年1月26日高纬磁层顶通量管事件的观测研究

2001年1月26日11:10～11:40UT, ClusterⅡ卫星簇位于午后高纬磁鞘边界层和磁鞘区,此 时行星际磁场Bz为南向. 本文对在此期间观测到的多次磁通量管事件作了详细的研究 ,获得一系列的新发现：（1）高纬磁鞘边界层磁通量管的出现具有准周期性,周期约为78s ,比目前已知的磁层顶向阳面FTE的平均周期（8～11min）小得多. （2）这些通量管都具有 强的核心磁场;其主轴多数在磁场最小变化方向,少数在中间变化方向,有些无法用PAA判 定其方向（需要用电流管PAA确定）,这与卫星穿越通量管的相对路径有关. （3）每个事件 都存在很好的HT参考系,在HT参考系中这些通量管是准定常态结构;所有通量管都沿磁层顶 表面运动,速度方向大体相同,都来自晨侧下方. 通量管的径向尺度为1～2RE, 与通 常的FTE通量管相当. （4）起源于磁层的强能离子大体上沿着管轴方向由磁层向磁鞘运动; 起源于太阳风的热等离子体沿管轴向磁层传输. 通量管为太阳风等离子体向磁层输运和磁层 粒子向行星际空间逃逸提供了通道. （5）每个通量管事件都伴随有晨昏电场的反转,该电 场为对流电场.     

火星感应磁场模型及其磁力线分布

本文利用火星具有电离层而无内禀磁场的特点以及它与太阳风相互作用的性质,通过适当的假设,建立了火星感应磁场模型.此模型建立如下,利用电流连续的特性: Δ·j=0 (j为感应电流)以及对火星磁层中的电流体系分布的合理假设给出电流,并由毕奥-萨伐尔定理得到火星周围的磁场强度的表达式;利用我们自编的磁力线跟踪程序由求得的磁场强度得到火星周围的磁力线分布.我们发现:利用此火星磁场模型得到的火星周围的磁力线分布与卫星观测的结果以及其他方法得到的结果符合的很好.     

Interball contribution to the high-altitude cusp observations

The polar cusps have traditionally been described as narrow funnel-shaped regions of magnetospheric magnetic field lines directly connected to magnetosheath, allowing the magnetosheath plasma to precipitate into the ionosphere. However, recent observations and theoretical considerations revealed that the formation of the cusp cannot be treated separately from the processes along the whole dayside magnetopause and that the plasma in regions like cleft or low-latitude boundary layer is of the same origin. Our review of statistical results as well as numerous case studies identified the anti-parallel merging at the magnetopause as the principal source of the magnetosheath plasma in all altitudes. Since effective merging requires a low plasma speed at the reconnection spot, we have found that the magnetopause shape and especially its indentation at the outer cusp is a very important part of the whole process. The plasma is slowed down in this indentation and arising multiscale turbulent processes enhance the reconnection rate.     

磁层顶的涡旋诱发重联和单X线重联

用二维MHD数值模拟研究了地球磁层顶的涡旋重联和单X线重联,并将两者作了比较。涡旋重联和单X线重联各在Alfvèn马赫数M_Λ大于和小于0.5时出现于向阳面磁层顶。前者所产生的磁岛与涡旋同心重叠;后者磁力线重联仅产生X点,而不闭合形成磁岛,涡旋分布于X点两侧。在涡旋重联的自组织过程中,互螺旋度等近似守恒决定其渐近态的拓扑结构。最后,讨论了这两种重联对通量传输事件所起的不同作用。     

磁层顶磁岛结构及其非线性行为

解析研究了磁层顶磁岛结构时间演化的非线性过程；推导出磁岛宽度的解析式和磁岛发生分叉、混沌的条件；论证了磁重联生成的磁岛有不稳定平衡结构，外扰作用会破坏该结构，使磁岛出现突变和混沌；说明了中小尺度太阳风脉动易使磁岛破碎，导致磁场湍动重联，形成小尺度结构．     

低纬磁层边界区的可压缩性Kelvin-Helmholtz不稳定波

本文用“三层模式”探讨了低纬磁层边界区的可压缩Kelvin-Helmholtz不稳定波的特性。低纬边界层的存在降低了不稳定的阈值,几乎整个低纬边界区都是不稳定的。从内边界向磁层传输的能流和动量流都比双层模式增大,扰动磁场是椭圆偏振的。还讨论了低纬边界区该不稳定性的动力学效应及其与P_c4-5脉动的联系。     

磁层顶边界层剪切流引起的MHD波模转化

采用非本征模方法（non modal analysis）研究了磁层顶边界层中剪切流导致的MHD波模转化及其与背景流场的能量交换过程.发现在分别代表磁层顶内、外边界层及过渡区的均匀剪切流场中,初始设定的Alfvén波扰动可部分转化为快、慢磁声波.而且,在不同区域,根据等离子体参数的不同,发生的波模转化过程也不相同.在外边界,Alfvén波主要转化为慢磁声波;在内边界,Alfvén波则主要转化为快磁声波;而在二者之间的过渡区中,Alfvén波可同时转化为两种类型的磁声波.我们还发现,含有较强快波分量的扰动可从磁层顶剪切流场中获得能量而得到线性放大.上述物理过程可能对解释磁鞘至磁层的能量及动量异常输运现象有所帮助.     

The structure of the magnetopause

The solar wind is a magnetized flowing plasma that intersects the Earth's magnetosphere at a velocity much greater than that of the compressional fast mode wave that is required to deflect that flow. A bow shock forms that alters the properties of the plasma and slows the flow, enabling continued evolution of the properties of the flow on route to its intersection with the magnetopause. Thus the plasma conditions at the magnetopause can be quite unlike those in the solar wind. The boundary between this “magnetosheath” plasma and the magnetospheric plasma is many gyroradii thick and is surrounded by several boundary layers. A very important process occurring at the magnetopause is reconnection whereby there is a topological change in magnetic flux lines so that field lines can connect the solar wind plasma to the terrestrial plasma, enabling the two to mix. This connection has important consequences for momentum transfer from the solar wind to the magnetosphere. The initiation of reconnection appears to be at locations where the magnetic fields on either side of the magnetopause are antiparallel. This condition is equivalent to there being no guide field in the reconnection region, so at the reconnection point there is truly a magnetic neutral or null point. Lastly reconnection can be spatially and temporally varying, causing the region of the magnetopause to be quite dynamic.