Plasma penetration of the dayside magnetopause

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Authors
Gunell, H.
Nilsson, H.
Stenberg, G.
Hamrin, M.
Karlsson, T.
Maggiolo, R.
Andre, M.
Lundin, R.
Dandouras, I.
Discipline
Physical sciences
Subject
Cluster spacecraft
Coherent structure
Direction of motion
Ion velocity
Laboratory experiments
Magnetic field line
Magnetopause crossings
Magnetosheath plasma
Peak values
Plasma characteristics
Plasmoids
Simultaneous measurement
Plasmas
Solar wind
Spacecraft
Magnetosphere
Audience
Scientific
Date
2012Metadata
Show full item recordDescription
Data from the Cluster spacecraft during their magnetopause crossing on 25 January 2002 are presented. The magnetopause was in a state of slow non-oscillatory motion during the observational period. Coherent structures of magnetosheath plasma, here typified as plasmoids, were seen on closed magnetic field lines on the inside of the magnetopause. Using simultaneous measurements on two spacecraft, the inward motion of the plasmoids is followed from one spacecraft to the next, and it is found to be in agreement with the measured ion velocity. The plasma characteristics and the direction of motion of the plasmoids show that they have penetrated the magnetopause, and the observations are consistent with the concept of impulsive penetration, as it is known from theory, simulations, and laboratory experiments. The mean flux across the magnetopause observed was 0.2-0.5 of the solar wind flux at the time, and the peak values of the flux inside the plasmoids reached approximately 20 of the solar wind flux.
Citation
Gunell, H.; Nilsson, H.; Stenberg, G.; Hamrin, M.; Karlsson, T.; Maggiolo, R.; Andre, M.; Lundin, R.; Dandouras, I. (2012). Plasma penetration of the dayside magnetopause. , Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 19, Issue 7, 72906, DOI: 10.1063/1.4739446.Identifiers
scopus: 2-s2.0-84866943421
Type
Article
Peer-Review
Yes
Language
eng