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| Titel |
Ion velocity distributions within the LLBL and their possible implication to multiple reconnections |
| VerfasserIn |
O. L. Vaisberg, L. A. Avanov, T. E. Moore, V. N. Smirnov |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
0992-7689
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Annales Geophysicae ; 22, no. 1 ; Nr. 22, no. 1 (2004-01-01), S.213-236 |
| Datensatznummer |
250014760
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/angeo-22-213-2004.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
We analyze two LLBL crossings made by the Interball-Tail satellite under a
southward or variable magnetosheath magnetic field: one crossing on the
flank of the magnetosphere, and another one closer to the subsolar point.
Three different types of ion velocity distributions within the LLBL are observed:
(a) D-shaped distributions, (b) ion velocity distributions consisting of two
counter-streaming components of magnetosheath-type, and (c) distributions
with three components, one of which has nearly zero parallel velocity and two
counter-streaming components. Only the (a) type fits to the single magnetic
flux tube formed by reconnection between the magnetospheric and
magnetosheath magnetic fields. We argue that two counter-streaming
magnetosheath-like ion components observed by Interball within the LLBL
cannot be explained by the reflection of the ions from the magnetic mirror
deeper within the magnetosphere. Types (b) and (c) ion velocity distributions
would form within spiral magnetic flux tubes consisting of a mixture of
alternating segments originating from the magnetosheath and from
magnetospheric plasma. The shapes of ion velocity distributions and their
evolution with decreasing number density in the LLBL indicate that a significant
part of the LLBL is located on magnetic field lines of long spiral flux tube
islands at the magnetopause, as has been proposed and found to occur in
magnetopause simulations. We consider these observations as evidence for
multiple reconnection Χ-lines between magnetosheath and magnetospheric
flux tubes.
Key words. Magnetospheric physics (magnetopause, cusp
and boundary layers; solar wind-magnetosphere interactions) |
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