Magnetotail particle dynamics and transport

Abstract

The main thrust of our research is to study the consequences of particle dynamics in the current sheet region of the magnetotail. The importance of understanding particle dynamics, in and near current sheets, cannot be over estimated, especially in light of NASA's recent interest in developing global circulation models to predict space weather. We have embarked on a long-term study to investigate the electrical resistance due to chaotic behavior, compare this resistance to inertial effects, and relate it to that resistance required in MHD modeling for reconnection to proceed. Using a single-particle model and observations, we have also found that a neutral line region can be remotely sensed. We plan to evaluate other cases of satellite observations near times of substorm onset to elucidate the relationship between the temporal development of a near-Earth neutral line and onset.