Comparative Planetary Space Physics

It has been 60 years since the space physics as new branch of geophysics started to grow in 1957 when the space age was opened by a small satellite called sputnik. The knowledge of Earth and planetary space has been significantly extended and deepened, but the questions we are facing today are more challenging. A consensus reached is that we have to regard the Earth (planet) as an integrated system including all spheres from the inner core to the magnetosphere, and we should try to investigate some questions standing on the ground of interdisciplinary study, especially those questions related to Earth’s (planetary) evolution. Space environment as the outer part of a planetary system, commonly exists in all planets but also exhibits strong diversity. Here, we introduce the short history of basic ideas and methods of comparative study, the advantages on understanding of some issues of global scale, and the prospect from comparative perspective.     

High kinetic energy density jets in the Earth’s magnetosheath: A case study

We study several high kinetic energy density jets observed during a traversal of the dayside magnetosheath by the Cluster spacecraft on March 17, 2001, at various distances from the magnetopause, generally characterised by anomalously high values of the local magnetosonic Mach number. We concentrate on two jets observed just outside the magnetopause, the first almost parallel to the GSM x axis and the second directed northward-tailward along the nominal magnetopause surface. We present evidence that none of them can be ascribed to magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause and show that the magnetopause is severely deformed by the jets, so that its local normal forms an angle of 97° with the quiet time magnetopause normal. On these grounds, we suggest that the indentation of the magnetopause is caused by an anti-sunward jet ramming into the magnetopause slightly equatorward of the northern cusp and that the northward-tailward jet is the result of its reflection at the deformed magnetopause. Finally, we briefly discuss our results by comparing them with past studies of events which in some way recall the one analysed herein.     

Ion and neutral sources and sinks within Saturn's inner magnetosphere: Cassini results

Using ion-electron fluid parameters derived from Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) observations within Saturn's inner magnetosphere as presented in Sittler et al. [2006a. Cassini observations of Saturn's inner plasmasphere: Saturn orbit insertion results. Planet. Space Sci., 54, 1197-1210], one can estimate the ion total flux tube content, N_IONL², for protons, H⁺, and water group ions, W⁺, as a function of radial distance or dipole L shell. In Sittler et al. [2005. Preliminary results on Saturn's inner plasmasphere as observed by Cassini: comparison with Voyager. Geophys. Res. Lett. 32(14), L14S04), it was shown that protons and water group ions dominated the plasmasphere composition. Using the ion-electron fluid parameters as boundary condition for each L shell traversed by the Cassini spacecraft, we self-consistently solve for the ambipolar electric field and the ion distribution along each of those field lines. Temperature anisotropies from Voyager plasma observations are used with (T_⊥/T_∥)_W⁺∼5 and (T_⊥/T_∥)_H⁺∼2. The radio and plasma wave science (RPWS) electron density observations from previous publications are used to indirectly confirm usage of the above temperature anisotropies for water group ions and protons. In the case of electrons we assume they are isotropic due to their short scattering time scales. When the above is done, our calculation show N_IONL² for H⁺ and W⁺ peaking near Dione's L shell with values similar to that found from Voyager plasma observations. We are able to show that water molecules are the dominant source of ions within Saturn's inner magnetosphere. We estimate the ion production rate S_ION∼10²⁷ ions/s as function of dipole L using N_H⁺, N_W⁺ and the time scale for ion loss due to radial transport τ_D and ion-electron recombination τ_REC. The ion production shows localized peaks near the L shells of Tethys, Dione and Rhea, but not Enceladus. We then estimate the neutral production rate, S_W, from our ion production rate, S_ION, and the time scale for loss of neutrals by ionization, τ_ION, and charge exchange, τ_CH. The estimated source rate for water molecules shows a pronounced peak near Enceladus’ L shell L∼4, with a value S_W∼2×10²⁸ mol/s.     

1998年5月磁暴磁层电流体系的地磁效应分析

低纬度地区地磁场的短时变化主要由以下电流体系产生:电离层发电机电流(IDC)、对称环电流(SRC)以及由部分环电流和Ⅱ区场向电流及其电离层回路组成的内磁层三维电流体系(PRFI).此外,由Ⅰ区场向电流及其电离层回路组成的电流体系(FACI)所产生的低纬地磁场也是不可忽略的.本文针对1998年5月1-6日的大磁暴,首先利用多个同子午线台站对的数据分离并消去由IDC电流产生的Sq场.然后,通过线性建模分离其他电流体系产生的磁场成分.结果表明:(1)发生在5月1-6日的磁暴可以分为两个过程,PRFI和FACI电流体系在1-3日不明显,在4-5日伴随着亚暴强烈发生.(2)SRC的变化情况在第一阶段同Dst指数相似,在第二阶段明显滞后于Dst指数.(3)在5月4-5日,PRFI在SRC之前增强,随着PRFI和FACI的恢复,SRC开始增强.这一结果为我们了解环电流和场向电流的形成以及它们的关系提供线索.     

地球磁尾和磁层顶磁场变化的随机特性

本文讨论了平板模型下电阻不稳定性使磁力线由对称平衡状态进入随机状态的可能性;给出该模型下以（x,z）为正则坐标的哈密顿函数表达式;在Harris平衡磁场分布下分析了撕裂模不稳定性,驱动重联和涡旋诱发重联引起的磁力线随机特性;估计了两个磁岛相互作用时磁力线进入随机态的临界值.本文结果可用于讨论地球磁层顶和磁尾处磁场的性质.     

Solar wind-magnetosphere interaction as simulated by a 3-D em particle code

We have studied the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction using a 3-D electromagnetic particle code. The results for an unmagnetized solar wind plasma streaming past a dipole magnetic field show the formation of a magnetopause and a magnetotail, the penetration of energetic particles into cusps and radiation belt and dawn-dusk asymmetries. The effects of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) have been investigated in a similar way as done by MHD simulations. The simulation results with a southward IMF show the shrunk magnetosphere with great particle entry into the cusps and nightside magnetosphere. This is a signature of a magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause. After a quasi-stable state is established with an unmagnetized solar wind we switched on a solar wind with an northward IMF. In this case the significant changes take place in the magnetotail. The waving motion was seen in the magnetotail and its length was shortened. This phenomena are consistent with the reconnections which occur at the high latitude magnetopause. In our simulations kinetic effects will determine the self-consistent anomalous resistivity in the magnetopause that causes reconnections.Deceased January 24, 1993; R. Bunemanet al. 1993.     

行星际磁场北向时太阳风－磁层的能量耦合

利用量纲分析法研究太阳风磁层的能量耦合问题。得到了在考虑磁层对太阳风的粘滞作用情况下,行星际磁场北向时的太阳风－磁层能量耦合函数,并首次在耦合函数中引入太阳风温度变量,在此基础上得到了一般情况下的太阳风－磁层耦合函数．     

磁暴环电流衰减率对磁层能量状态的影响

赤道环电流是引起磁暴扰动的主要电流体系,环电流衰减速率极大地影响着磁层能量收支估计和磁暴预报.本文提出评价环电流衰减率的两条新指标;（1）E指标（磁暴事件总能量收支平衡指标）,即磁暴全过程的积分能量收支平衡;（2）L指标（长期总能量收支平衡指标）,即几年、十几年或更长时段内积分能量收支平衡.我们用1998~2003年44个磁暴事件以及第23太阳周（1998~2008年）11年的连续资料,分别检验了几类衰减率模型对上述两条指标符合的情况.结果表明,PA1978和XD2010两类模型对E指标符合得最好,即无论磁暴强弱,它们均显示出事件总能量收支平衡的基本特征;同时,这两类模型与L指标符合得也最好,即它们的长期积分能量基本平衡,而且磁暴期间的能量消耗表现出明显增强的重要特征.     

磁场偶极化过程中磁尾的电离层离子加速:Ⅰ离子分布函数的演化

采用动力学方程,对亚暴期间磁尾磁场向偶极形弛豫过程中离子分布函数的演化进行了模拟研究,主要结果为：（１）初始时刻分布函数为相对于速度呈指数下降的离子束,在随时间变化过程中,逐渐变为相对于速度（包括平行和垂直速度）的单峰结构,且单峰在速度空间的位置随时间的变化而向高速方向移动;（２）在速度空间中平行于磁场方向上单峰向高速方向移动得较慢,在垂直方向上移动得较快;（３）轻离子分布函数峰值的位置较重离子随时间的变化向高速方向移动较快。（４）初始能量较高时,离子分布函数的单峰位置向高速方向移动较快。（５）离子团在磁场偶极化过程中表现为一束地向流．本文还对上行离子受感应电场的加速进行了讨论．