Probability of Field-Aligned Currents Observed by the Satellite Cluster in the Magnetotail

Field-aligned current （FAC） density distribution at the plasma sheet boundary layers is statistically studied. The FAC is calculated by the so-called curlometer technique with the data from FGM onboard the four Cluster spacecraft in 2001. By calculation we obtain a large number of FAC samples. In the samples, most of calculated FAC densities were very small and around zero caused by some errors or noise. In order to get the real FAC density distribution in the magnetotail, we use a three-Gaussian distribution to fit the errors, then subtract the estimated error contribution from the full distribution and obtain the FAC density distribution. The result shows that the FAC occurrence versus its density has a distribution consisting of a Gauss/an distribution with an additional decreasing exponential distribution. The most probable value of the FAC density is 3.45 pT/km.     

Spatial Distribution of Energetic Electrons during Magnetic Reconnection

Electron acceleration by the inductive electric field near the X point in magnetic reconnection is an important generation mechanism for energetic electrons. Particle simulations have revealed that most of energetic electrons reside in the magnetic field line pileup region, and a depletion of energetic electrons can be found near the centre of the diffusion region [Phys. Plasmas, 13 (2006) 012309]. We report direct measurement of energetic electron in and around the ion diffusion region in near-Earth tail by the cluster, and our observations confirm the above predictions: a depletion of the high-energy electron fluxes is detected near the centre of the diffusion region. At the same time, the plasma temperature has a similar profile in the diffusion region. .     

Dynamic Evolution of Outer Radiation Belt Electrons due to Whistler-Mode Chorus

Following our preceding work, we perform a further study on dynamic evolution of energetic electrons in the outer radiation belt L=4.5 due to a band of whistler-mode chorus frequency distributed over a standard Gaussian spectrum. We solve the 2D bounce-averaged Fokker-Planek equation by allowing incorporation of cross diffusion rates. Numerical results show that whistler-mode chorus can be effective in acceleration of electrons at large pitch angles, and enhance the phase space density for energies of about 1 MeV by a factor of 10^2 or above in about one day, consistent with observation of significant enhancement in flux of energetic electrons during the recovery phase of a geomagnetic storm. Moreover, neglecting cross diffusion often leads to overestimates of the phase space density evolution at large pitch angle by a factor of 5-10 after one day, with larger errors at smaller pitch angle, suggesting that cross diffusion also plays an important role in wave-particle interaction.     

Alfven Waves in a Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer Associated with Near-Tail Magnetic Reconnection

We report observations from Geotail satellite showing that large Poynting fluxes associated with Alfven waves in the plasma sheet boundary layer （PSBL） occur in the vicinity of the near-tail reconnection region on 10 December 1996. During the period of large Poynting fluxes, Geotail also observed strong tailward plasma flows. These observations demonstrate the importance of near-tail reconnection process as the energy source of Alfven waves in the PSBL. Strong tailward （Earthward） plasma flows ought to be an important candidate in generating Alfven waves. Furthermore, the strong perturbations not only of the magnetic field but also of the electric field observed in the PSBL indicate that the PSBL plays an important role in the generation and propagation of the energy flux associated with Alfven waves.     

Nonlinear Evolution of Lower-Hybrid Drift Instability in Harris Current Sheet

We perform 2.5-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations to investigate the nonlinear evolution of the lower hybrid drift instability (LHDI) in Harris current sheet. Due to the drift motion of electrons in the electric field of the excited low hybrid drift (LHD) waves, the electrons accumulate at the outer layer, and therefore there is net positive charge at the inner edge of the current sheet. This redistribution of charge can create an electrostatic field along the z direction, which then modifies the motions of the electrons along the y direction by E×B drift. This effect strongly changes the structure of the current sheet.     

Identification of Radial Distance of Plasma Dispersionless Injection Boundary from the Injection Source

Measurements of energetic particles obtained by the two geosynchronous satellites （1991-080 and LANL-97A） are performed to investigate the plasma injection boundary and source region during the magnetospheric substorms. The measurement method is developed to allow remote sensing of the plasma injection time and the radial distance of injection boundaries by using measured energy dispersion and modelling particle drifts within the Volland-Stern electric field and the dipole magnetic field model. The radial distance of the injection boundary deduced from a dispersion event observed by the LANL-97A satellite on 14 June 1998 is 7.1RE, and the injection time agrees well with the substorm onset time identified by the Polar Ultraviolet Imager. The method has been applied to an event happened at 22.9 UT on 11 March 1998, when both the satellites （1991-080 and LANL-97A） observed the dispersionless character. The results indicate that the radial distance of injection source locates at 8.1RE at magnetotail, and particles move earthward from magnetotail into inner magnetosphere at 22.5 UT.     

A Three-Dimensional Ray-Tracing Study of R-X Mode Waves during High Geomagnetic Activity

We further present a three-dimensional (3D) ray-tracing study on the propagation characteristic of the superluminous R-X mode waves during high geomagnetic activity following our recent two-dimensional results [J. Geophys. Res. 112(2007)A10214]. We perform numerical calculations for this mode which originates at specific altitude r=2.0R_E in the source cavity along a 70° night geomagnetic field line. We demonstrate that the ray path of the R-X mode is essentially governed by the azimuthal angle of the wave vector k. Ray paths starting with azimuthal angle 180° (or in the meridian plane) can reach the lowest latitude, but stay at relatively higher latitudes with the azimuthal angles other than 180° (or off the meridian plane). The results further supports the previous finding that the R-X mode may be physicallypresent in the radiation belts under appropriate conditions.     

Simulation of Resonant Interaction between Energetic Electrons and Whistler-Mode Chorus in the Outer Radiation Belt

We construct a realistic model to evaluate the chorus wave-particle interaction in the outer radiation belt L = 4.5. This model incorporates a plasmatrough number density model, a field-aligned density model and a realistic wave power and frequency model. We solve the 2D bounce-averaged momentum-pitch-angle Fokker-Planck equation and show that the Whistler-mode chorus can be effective in the acceleration of electrons, and enhance the phase space density for energies of -1 MeV by a factor from 10 to 10^3 in about two days, consistent with the observation. We also demonstrate that ignorance of the electron number density variation along field line and magnetic local time in the previous work yields an overestimate of energetic electron phase space density by a factor 5-10 at large pitch-angle after two days, suggesting that a realistic plasma density model is very important to evaluate the evolution of energetic electrons in the outer radiation belt.     

An Island Coalescence Scenario for Near-Earth Current Disruption in the Magnetotail

A current disruption and dipolarization scenario associated with island coalescences in the near-Earth region is proposed. The thin and elongated current-sheet built up during the growth phase is unstable due to a tearing mode instability that leads to formation of multiple magnetic islands （or magnetic flux ropes in the three dimensional case） in the near-Earth region. The growth rate of the tearing mode shoual be different in different locations because the rate is in general determined by the external driving force and the local plasma sheet properties. When the rate of the magnetic reconnection in the mid-tail region around 20RE is much larger than that in other locations, the strong bulk earthward flows resulting from the fast reconnection in the mid-tail drive the earthward convection and the coalescence of the magnetic islands. Consequently, the cross-tail current in the near-Earth region is suddenly disrupted and the geometry of the magnetic field changes from tall-like to dipolar-like in the ideal time scale. This proposed scenario is tested by Hall MHD simulation and is compared with the observations.     

Properties of Field Aligned Current in Plasma Sheet Boundary Layers in Magnetotail: Cluster Observation

Field aligned current （FAC） distribution in the plasma sheet boundary layers （PSBLs） in the magnetotail is studied statistically by analysing magnetic field data from the Cluster 4-point measurements. The results show that the FAC distribution on the dusk side is not the same as that on the dawn side in the magnetotail. On the each side earthward and tailward, FA C occurrences are different; occurrence and average current density of FA Cs in the northern hemisphere are different from those in the southern hemisphere. This implies that the FACs have dusk-dawn side asymmetry, polarity asymmetry and inter hemisphere difference in the magnetotail. The present results give a good observation evidence for study on the FAC mechanism.     

Interhemispheric Comparison of Dipole Tilt Angle Effects on Latitude of Mid-Altitude Cusp

A statistical study of interhemispheric comparison of dipole tilt angle effect on the latitude of the mid-altitude cusp is preformed by a data set of the Cluster cusp crossings over a 5-year period. The result shows that the dipole tilt angle has a clear control of the cusp latitudinal location. When the dipole tilts sunwards, the cusp is shifted poleward. The northern cusp moves 1° ILAT for every 15.4° increase in the dipole tilt angle, while the southern cusp moves 1° ILAT for every 20.8° increase in the dipole tilt angle. This suggests that an interhemispheric difference appears in the dependence of cusp latitudinal location on the dipole tilt angle.     

Bounce-Averaged Acceleration of Energetic Electrons by Whistler Mode Chorus in the Magnetosphere

We construct the bounce-averaged diffusion coefficients and study the bounce-averaged acceleration for energetic electrons in gyroresonance with whistler mode chorus. Numerical calculations have been performed for a band of chorus frequency distributed over a standard Gaussian spectrum specifically in the region near L = 4.5, where peaks of the electron phase space density occur. It is found that whistler mode chorus can efficiently accelerate electrons and can increase the phase space density at energies of about 1 MeV by more than one order of magnitude about one day, in agreement with the satellite observations during the recovery phase of magnetic storms.     

Pitch Angle Distribution Evolution of Energetic Electrons by Whistler-Mode Chorus

We develop a two-dimensional momentum and pitch angle code to solve the typical Fokker-Planck equation which governs wave-particle interaction in space plasmas. We carry out detailed calculations of momentum and pitch angle diffusion coefficients, and temporal evolution of pitch angle distribution for a band of chorus frequency distributed over a standard Gaussian spectrum particularly in the heart of the Earth＇s radiation belt L = 4.5, where peaks of the electron phase space density are observed. We find that the Whistler-mode chorus can produce significant acceleration of electrons at large pitch angles, and can enhance the phase space density for energies of 0.5 - 1 MeV by a factor of 10 or above after about 24h. This result can account for observation of significant enhancement in flux of energetic electrons during the recovery phase of a geomagnetic storm.     

Cluster Observation of Eelectrostatic Solitary Waves around Magnetic Null Point in Thin Current Sheet

Electrostatic solitary waves （ESWs） are observed in the vicinity of the magnetic null of the widely studied magnetic reconnection taking place at the near-earth tail when current sheet becomes dramatic thinning during substorm time on 1 October 2001. We use the Imada method for the 2-D reconnection model and study the characteristics of ESWs near the X-line region and the magnetic null points. The result shows that the amplitude of the observed ESWs in the vicinity of X-line region ranges from 0.1mV/m to 5mV/m, and the amplitude is larger near the magnetic null points. The generation mechanism and the role of ESWs associated with magnetic reconnection are also discussed.     

Characteristics of Wave--Particle Interaction in a Hydrogen Plasma

We study the characteristics of cyclotron way,particle interaction in a typical hydrogen plasma. The numerical calculations of minimum resonant energy Emin, resonant wave frequency ω, and pitch angle diffusion coefficient Dαα for interactions between R-mode/L-mode and electrons/protons are presented. It is found that Emin decreases with ω for R-mode/electron, L-mode/proton and L-mode/electron interactions, but increase with ω for R-mode/proton interaction. It is shown that both R-mode and L-mode waves can efficiently scatter energetic （10 keV-100 keV） electrons and protons and cause precipitation loss at L = 4, indicating that perhaps waveparticle interaction is a serious candidate for the ring current decay.     

Bounce-averaged Pitch-angle Diffusion by Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves in Multi-ion Plasmas

We present a study on the gyroresonant interaction particles in multi-ion （H^＋, He^＋, and O^＋） plasmas between electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves and ring current We provide a first evaluation of the bounce-averaged pitch angle diffusion coefficient 〈Dαα〉 for three typical energies of 50, 100 and 150keV at L ≈ 3.5, the heart of the symmetrical ring current. We show that in the H^＋-band and He^＋-band, 〈Dαα〉 can approach - 10^-4 s^-1 for ion H^＋, and - 5 × 10^-5 s^-1 /or ion He^＋; meanwhile, in the O^＋-band, 〈Dαα〉 can reach - 10^-5 s^-1 for ions He^＋ and O^＋. The results above show that the EMIC wave can efficiently produce precipitation loss of energetic （- 100 keV） ions （H^＋, He^＋ and even O^＋）, and such a wave tends to be a serious candidate responsible for the ring current decay.     

EPR study of the low temperature charge density wave state of o-TaS3

We report an EPR study of the chain conductor o-TaS₃ in the low temperature charge density wave (CDW) state. The EPR spectrum is attributed to Fe³⁺ (S=5/2) impurities. A power law for the temperature dependence of the EPR intensity, (T^−α with an exponent α∼0.8) found below ∼30 K is very close to that previously found in magnetic susceptibility measurements. The possible role of these impurities in the susceptibility data are discussed.     

Second-Order Resonant Interaction of Ring Current Protons with Whistler-Mode Waves

We present a study on the second-order resonant interaction between the ring current protons with Whistler-mode waves propagating near the quasi electrostatic limit following the previous second-order resonant theory. The diffusion coefficients are proportional to the electric field amplitude E, much greater than those for the regular first-order resonance, which are proportional to the electric field amplitudes square E^2. Numerical calculations for the pitch angle scattering are performed for typical energies of protons Ek = 50 keV and 100 keV at locations L = 2 and L = 3.5. The timescale for the loss process of protons by the Whistler waves is found to approach one hour, comparable to that by the EMIC waves, suggesting that Whistler waves may also contribute significantly to the ring current decay under appropriate conditions.     

Specific heat anomalies in the quasi two-dimensional monophosphate tungsten bronzes KxP4W8O32

The monophosphate tungsten bronzes K_xP₄W₈O₃₂ (0.75<x<2) are quasi-two-dimensional conductors which show electronic transitions at a critical temperature T_c depending on the concentration of the alkali metal. The phase diagram shows a maximum at for x=1.30. We report specific heat measurements in the range 120-190 K. The thermal anomalies found at the transition temperature are larger than in conventional charge density wave materials. This corroborates that the transition is not a ‘pure’ charge density wave transition and that a structural transition dominates the instability.     

Storm-Time Strong Field-Aligned Ion Upflow in Region of the SED Plume

We report the observations from the GPS TEC and DMSP F-13 satellites showing that very strong upward field-aligned （FA） ion velocity and flux in the outer region of the storm-enhanced density （SED） occurred in the event of the geomagnetic storm on 29-31 May 2003. By a method of coordinate transformation, upward FA ion velocities in excess of 25Orals are obtained from the observations of the DMSP F-13 satellite. Further, an FA ion flux is estimated to be about 4.5 x 1013 ions/m2 s in the dusk sector. The estimated FA ion velocity and flux provide a powerful direct proof to support the scenario that there is a strong coupling of particles between the ionosphere and plasmasphere in the region of the SED plume. In the process, FA ion flux transports from the ionosphere to the plasmasphere in the region of the SED plume. Therefore, the plume of SED in the ionosphere provides an important source to the enhanced density of O^＋ in the storm-time plasmasphere.