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Fahnenstiel, S. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Fahnenstiel, S. C..

High temporal resolution energetic particle soundings at the magnetopause on November 8, 1977, using ISEE 2

An inbound crossing of the magnetopause on November 8, 1977, was analyzed using the greater spatial resolution obtained by the ISEE 2 instrument at high bit rate. A technique is described, which was used to obtain trapping boundary parameters for five energy channels in the energy range from 24-70 keV, and the location of the trapping boundary with respect to the boundary layer plasma is identified in addition to the waves on the trapping boundary consistent with the soundings in all energy channels. It is found that the trapping boundary for energetic ions is sharp and well defined for about 35 keV ions, corresponding most of the time to the earthward edge of the plasma boundary layer. Magnetosheath-like plasma is sometimes observed up to 800 km inside the trapping boundary, and it is argued that the wave nature of the trapping boundary is the cause of the slight difference between the higher and lower energy ion trapping boundary locations.

Fritz, T. A.↗

Standing waves observed at the dayside magnetopause

Energetic (greater than 24 keV) ion distributions are used in remotely sounding an ion trapping boundary at the dayside magnetopause for two inbound crossings of ISEE-2 on days 347 and 312, 1977, at 0830 and 1100 LT. Applying single particle trajectory models to the observed temporal relationships between trapping boundary distance and orientation parameters, it is concluded that longitudinal standing waves occur on the boundary, having typical wavelengths of 1500-3000 km, amplitudes of 500 km, and periods of 200-400 sec. The standing wave nodes move along the node axis with velocities ranging from 1.5 to 6 km/sec. The data are found to be inconsistent with models of traveling waves moving tailward along the boundary.

Fahnenstiel, S. C.↗