Observations of plasma vortices in the vicinity of flow-braking: A case study

K. Keika; R. Nakamura; M. Volwerk; V. Angelopoulos; W. Baumjohann; A. Retinò; M. Fujimoto; J. W. Bonnell; H. J. Singer; H. U. Auster; J. P. McFadden; D. Larson; I. Mann

doi:10.5194/angeo-27-3009-2009

Observations of plasma vortices in the vicinity of flow-braking: A case study

K. Keika
, R. Nakamura
, M. Volwerk
, V. Angelopoulos
, W. Baumjohann
, A. Retinò
, M. Fujimoto
, J. W. Bonnell
, H. J. Singer
, H. U. Auster
, J. P. McFadden
, D. Larson
, I. Mann

Space Research Institute
Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California
ISAS/JAXA
University of California, Space Sciences Laboratory
Space Weather Prediction Center
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Institut Fr Geophysik und Extraterrestrische Physik
Technical University Braunschweig
Department of Physics
University of Alberta

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We examine fast plasma flows and magnetic field fluctuations observed by THEMIS at 03:00-03:30 UT on 12 December 2007. All THEMIS probes are situated in the near-Earth plasma sheet (X_SM>-10 R_E) with 1-2 R_E spacecraft separations in azimuthal and radial directions. We focus on the observations of plasma convective flows made simultaneously by more than one THEMIS probe. At about 03:10 UT and 03:14 UT, the THEMIS P2 probe observed earthward flows of >100 km/s. The THEMIS P1 probe, located duskward and earthward of P2, observed tailward flows under a positive B_z. The inner most probe THEMIS P4, located at almost the same MLT as THEMIS P1 and P2, did not see any clear flow. We examine the convective flow patterns for the THEMIS observations. We conclude that plasma vortices are formed near the region where the earthward flows slow down and turn in azimuthal directions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3009-3017
Number of pages	9
Journal	Annales Geophysicae
Volume	27
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-27-3009-2009
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2009
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Magnetospheric physics (Magnetotail; Plasma convection; Plasma sheet)

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10.5194/angeo-27-3009-2009

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@article{050dba3edc9b453aa4b32a4676d58087,

title = "Observations of plasma vortices in the vicinity of flow-braking: A case study",

abstract = "We examine fast plasma flows and magnetic field fluctuations observed by THEMIS at 03:00-03:30 UT on 12 December 2007. All THEMIS probes are situated in the near-Earth plasma sheet (XSM>-10 RE) with 1-2 RE spacecraft separations in azimuthal and radial directions. We focus on the observations of plasma convective flows made simultaneously by more than one THEMIS probe. At about 03:10 UT and 03:14 UT, the THEMIS P2 probe observed earthward flows of >100 km/s. The THEMIS P1 probe, located duskward and earthward of P2, observed tailward flows under a positive Bz. The inner most probe THEMIS P4, located at almost the same MLT as THEMIS P1 and P2, did not see any clear flow. We examine the convective flow patterns for the THEMIS observations. We conclude that plasma vortices are formed near the region where the earthward flows slow down and turn in azimuthal directions.",

keywords = "Magnetospheric physics (Magnetotail; Plasma convection; Plasma sheet)",

author = "K. Keika and R. Nakamura and M. Volwerk and V. Angelopoulos and W. Baumjohann and A. Retin{\`o} and M. Fujimoto and Bonnell, \{J. W.\} and Singer, \{H. J.\} and Auster, \{H. U.\} and McFadden, \{J. P.\} and D. Larson and I. Mann",

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doi = "10.5194/angeo-27-3009-2009",

language = "English",

volume = "27",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Observations of plasma vortices in the vicinity of flow-braking

T2 - A case study

AU - Keika, K.

AU - Nakamura, R.

AU - Volwerk, M.

AU - Angelopoulos, V.

AU - Baumjohann, W.

AU - Retinò, A.

AU - Fujimoto, M.

AU - Bonnell, J. W.

AU - Singer, H. J.

AU - Auster, H. U.

AU - McFadden, J. P.

AU - Larson, D.

AU - Mann, I.

PY - 2009/12/1

Y1 - 2009/12/1

N2 - We examine fast plasma flows and magnetic field fluctuations observed by THEMIS at 03:00-03:30 UT on 12 December 2007. All THEMIS probes are situated in the near-Earth plasma sheet (XSM>-10 RE) with 1-2 RE spacecraft separations in azimuthal and radial directions. We focus on the observations of plasma convective flows made simultaneously by more than one THEMIS probe. At about 03:10 UT and 03:14 UT, the THEMIS P2 probe observed earthward flows of >100 km/s. The THEMIS P1 probe, located duskward and earthward of P2, observed tailward flows under a positive Bz. The inner most probe THEMIS P4, located at almost the same MLT as THEMIS P1 and P2, did not see any clear flow. We examine the convective flow patterns for the THEMIS observations. We conclude that plasma vortices are formed near the region where the earthward flows slow down and turn in azimuthal directions.

AB - We examine fast plasma flows and magnetic field fluctuations observed by THEMIS at 03:00-03:30 UT on 12 December 2007. All THEMIS probes are situated in the near-Earth plasma sheet (XSM>-10 RE) with 1-2 RE spacecraft separations in azimuthal and radial directions. We focus on the observations of plasma convective flows made simultaneously by more than one THEMIS probe. At about 03:10 UT and 03:14 UT, the THEMIS P2 probe observed earthward flows of >100 km/s. The THEMIS P1 probe, located duskward and earthward of P2, observed tailward flows under a positive Bz. The inner most probe THEMIS P4, located at almost the same MLT as THEMIS P1 and P2, did not see any clear flow. We examine the convective flow patterns for the THEMIS observations. We conclude that plasma vortices are formed near the region where the earthward flows slow down and turn in azimuthal directions.

KW - Magnetospheric physics (Magnetotail; Plasma convection; Plasma sheet)

U2 - 10.5194/angeo-27-3009-2009

DO - 10.5194/angeo-27-3009-2009

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:78650286880

SN - 0992-7689

VL - 27

SP - 3009

EP - 3017

JO - Annales Geophysicae

JF - Annales Geophysicae

IS - 8

ER -

Observations of plasma vortices in the vicinity of flow-braking: A case study

Abstract

Keywords

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