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Results for “Earth magnetosheath”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Solar wind carbon, nitrogen and oxygen abundances measured in the earth's magnetosheath with AMPTE/CCE

The solar wind number density ratios of C(6+) + C(5+) and N(7+) + N(6+) + N(5+) relative to O(8+) + O(7+) + O(6+) have been measured for the first time using data from the Charge-Energy-Mass Spectrometer on the AMPTE/CCE spacecraft during four solar active periods from Sept. 19 to Nov. 1, 1984 when CCE traversed the subsolar magnetosheath of the compressed magnetosphere. It is found that the average values of the density ratios of C/O and N/O to be 0.43 + or - 0.03 and 0.15 + or - 0.06, respectively. These ratios, as well as the average He(2+)/O ratio of 43 + or - 5 for these same time periods, are in excellent agreement with Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) abundance ratios as well as SEP-derived coronal abundances of these elements. The solar wind C/O ratio is substantially below the generally accepted photospheric value of 0.60.

Gloeckler, G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Variable carbon and oxygen abundances in the solar wind as observed in earth's magnetosheath by AMPTE/CCE

A comprehensive list is presented of the solar wind oxygen and carbon charge states and abundances measured in all magnetosheath periods during the lifetime of the AMPTE/CCE satellite, 1984-1988. A surprisingly variable C/O ratio is found. The variations seem to be strongly correlated to the source temperature in the corona where the solar wind responsible for the particular flow originated.

Von Steiger, R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Local time occurrence frequency of energetic ions in the earth's magnetosheath

The occurrence frequency of energetic ions in the energy range from 8 to 40 keV/e as a function of local time in the magnetosheath is presented. Energetic ions are observed in the magnetosheath with a minimum probability of 25 percent for all local times. The occurrence frequency for the energetic ions is higher on the dawnside than on the duskside but shows a relative maximum postnoon in the local time range from 12 to 15 hours. The postnoon relative maximum is attributed to a magnetospheric source for the energetic ions while the dawn-dusk asymmetry is attributed to a quasi-parallel bow shock source.

Fuselier, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Magnetic spectral signatures in the Earth's magnetosheath and plasma depletion layer

Correlations between plasma properties and magnetic fluctuations in the sub-solar magnetosheath downstream of a quasi-perpendicular shock have been found and indicate that mirror and ion cyclotronlike fluctuations correlate with the magnetosheath proper and plasma depletion layer, respectively (Anderson and Fueselier, 1993). We explore the entire range of magnetic spectral signatures observed from the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers/Charge Composition Explorer (AMPTE/CCE)spacecraft in the magnetosheath downstream of a quasi-perpendicular shock. The magnetic spectral signatures typically progress from predominantly compressional fluctuations,delta B(sub parallel)/delta B perpendicular to approximately 3, with F/F (sub p) less than 0.2 (F and F (sub p) are the wave frequency and proton gyrofrequency, respectively) to predominantly transverse fluctuations, delta B(sub parallel)/delta B perpendicular to approximately 0.3, extending up to F(sub p). The compressional fluctuations are characterized by anticorrelation between the field magnitude and electron density, n(sub e), and by a small compressibility, C(sub e) identically equal to (delta n(sub e)/n(sub e)) (exp 2) (B/delta B(sub parallel)) (exp 2) approximately 0.13, indicative of mirror waves. The spectral characteristics of the transverse fluctuations are in agreement with predictions of linear Vlasov theory for the H(+) and He(2+) cyclotron modes. The power spectra and local plasma parameters are found to vary in concert: mirror waves occur for beta(s ub parallel p) (beta (sub parallel p) identically = 2 mu(sub zero) n(sub p) kT (sub parallel p) / B(exp 2) approximately = 2, A(sub p) indentically = T(sub perpendicular to p)/T(sub parallel p) - 1 approximately = 0.4, whereas cyclotron waves occur for beta (sub parallel p) approximately = 0.2 and A(sub p) approximately = 2. The transition from mirror to cyclotron modes is predicted by linear theory. The spectral characteristics overlap for intermediate plasma parameters. The plasma observations are described by A(sub p) = 0.85 beta(sub parallel P) (exp - 0.48) with a log regression coefficient of -0.74. This inverse A(sub p) - beta(sub parallel p) correlation corresponds closely to the isocontours of maximum ion anisotropy instability growth, gamma (sub m)/omega(sub p) = 0.01, for the mirror and cyclotron modes. The agreement of observed properties and predictions of local theory suggests that the spectral signatures reflect the local plasma environment and that the anisotropy instabilities regulate A(sub p). We suggest that the spectral characteristics may provide a useful basis for ordering observations in the magnetosheath and that the A(sub p) - beta(sub parallel p) inverse correlation may be used as a beta-dependent upper limit on the proton anisotropy to represent kinetic effects.

Anderson, Brian J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

On the origins of energetic ions in the earth's dayside magnetosheath

Energetic ion events in the earth's dayside subsolar magnetosheath (0900 - 1300 Local Time) are surveyed using data from the AMPTE/CCE Hot Plasma Composition Experiment. Ion species carrying the signature of their origin O(+) and energetic He(2+) are used to distinguish between magnetospheric and solar wind origins for the energetic ion events. The results of this survey indicate that the majority of energetic (10-17 keV/e) H(+) and He(2+) ions observed in the dayside magnetosheath are accelerated from the solar wind population. The energetic He(2+) to H(+) density ratio in the magnetosheath is consistent with that predicted from first-order Fermi acceleration of solar wind ions in the turbulent regions upstream and downstream from the earth's quasi-parallel bow shock. The simultaneous occurrence of both energetic He(2+) and magnetospheric O(+) indicates that, on occasion, both Fermi acceleration of solar wind ions and leakage of magnetospheric ions occurs in the dayside magnetosheath.

Fuselier, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Electron Heating at Kinetic Scales in Magnetosheath Turbulence

We present a statistical study of coherent structures at kinetic scales, using data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in the Earths magnetosheath. We implemented the multi-spacecraft partial variance of increments (PVI) technique to detect these structures, which are associated with intermittency at kinetic scales. We examine the properties of the electron heating occurring within such structures. We find that, statistically, structures with a high PVI index are regions of significant electron heating. We also focus on one such structure, a current sheet, which shows some signatures consistent with magnetic reconnection. Strong parallel electron heating coincides with whistler emissions at the edges of the current sheet.

Chasapis, Alexandros↗
NASA NTRS1985

Patchy reconnection and magnetic ropes in astrophysical plasmas

The formation of flux ropes in the magnetosphere of Venus due to velocity shear is examined in order to infer the properties of flux ropes in the earth magnetosphere. Observational data obtained by the International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE) spacecraft for the geometry of directed flows in the earth magnetosheath are compared with magnetometer measurements carried out on board Pioneer Venus Orbiter, and the results are discussed in detail. It is shown that the velocity shear is the dominant element shaping the magnetic structure of the magnetosheaths.

Russell, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Soft X-Ray Imaging of Earth's Dayside Magnetosheath and Cusps Using Hybrid Simulations

Interactions between solar wind ions and neutral hydrogen atoms in Earth's exosphere can lead to the emission of soft X-rays. Upcoming missions such as SMILE and LEXI aim to use soft X-ray imaging to study the global structure of the magnetosphere. Although the magnetosheath and dayside magnetopause can often be driven by kinetic physics, it has typically been omitted from fluid simulations used to predict X-ray emissions. We study the possible results of soft X-ray imaging using hybrid simulations under quasi-radial interplanetary magnetic fields, where ion-ion instabilities drive ultra-low frequency foreshock waves, leading to turbulence in the magnetosheath, affecting the dynamics of the cusp and magnetopause. We simulate soft X-ray emission to determine what may be seen by missions such as LEXI, and evaluate the possibility of identifying kinetic structures. While kinetic structures are visible in high-cadence imaging, current instruments may not have the time resolution to discern kinetic signals.

J Ng↗
NASA NTRS1993

Ion anisotropy instabilities in the magnetosheath

Recent observations in Earth's magnetosheath have delineated several different kinds of magnetic fluctuation spectra below the proton cyclotron frequency. This paper provides a theoretical interpretation for some of these observations describing solutions of the linear Vlasov dispersion equation for fully electromagnetic instabilities for particle distributions which model those observed in the magnetosheath. This model yields three growing modes: the proton cyclotron anisotropy the helium cyclotron anisotropy, and the mirror instabilities. The results show very good agreement with the observations of mirror-like and proton-cyclotron-like events. This agreement with observations implies that the transition between cyclotron and mirror fluctuation dominance is consistent with linear theory.

Gary, S. P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Ion burst event in the earth's dayside magnetosheath

The Medium Energy Particle Analizer instrument on the AMPTE/CCE Spacecraft provided ion angular distributions as rapidly as every 6 sec for H, He, and O at energies of 10 keV to 2 MeV in the dayside magnetosheath whenever the solar wind pressure compressed the magnetopause within 8.75 R(E), the CCE apogee. This paper discusses a burst of energetic particles in the subsolar magnetosheath and its association with rapid changes in the local magnetic field direction in such a way the magnetic field connected the spacecraft to the magnetopause during the enhancement. It is found that magnetosheath angular distributions outside the burst peaked at 90 deg pitch angles, whereas during the burst they exhibited field-aligned streaming either parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic-field combined with a clear earthward gradient. The clear earthward gradients at E not smaller than 10 KeV, the streaming, and the slope change in the burst-time magnetosheath spectrum at about 10 KeV suggest magnetospheric source for the burst-time not smaller than 10 KeV ions and heated solar wind for E less than 10 KeV.

Paschalidis, N. P.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Magnetic pulsations from 0.1 to 4.0 Hz and associated plasma properties in the earth's subsolar magnetosheath and plasma depletion layer

AMPTE CCE magnetic field data acquired during periods of magnetospheric compressions when the spacecraft sampled the magnetosheath are analyzed on the basis of a dynamic spectral analysis covering frequencies 0.1 to 4.0 Hz. Ion and electron data are used to identify regions, to monitor the upstream shock geometry, and to evaluate moments of the proton distribution. Fourteen encounters representing 46 hr of observations are analyzed. A compilation of the temporal sequence of spectral structures shows that electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves occur next to the magnetopause, while mirror waves occur outside the region of EMIC waves. It is concluded that there is a close relationship between EMIC waves in the sheath and the plasma depletion layer. For quasi-parallel upstream conditions, the magnetic field power spectra often exhibit no band limited structures but only broadband noise.

Anderson, B. J.↗