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Results for “INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELD”

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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

An evidence for prompt electric field disturbance driven by changes in the solar wind density under northward IMF B z condition

Before the onset of a geomagnetic storm on 22 January 2012 (Ap = 24), an enhancement in solar wind number density from 10/cm 3 to 22/cm 3 during 0440–0510 UT under northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF Bz) condition is shown to have enhanced the high-latitude ionospheric convection and also caused variations in the geomagnetic field globally. Some conspicuous changes in ΔX are observed not only at longitudinally separated low-latitude stations over Indian (prenoon), South American (midnight), Japanese (afternoon), Pacific (afternoon) and African (morning) sectors but also at latitudinally separated stations located over high and middle latitudes. The latitudinal variation of the amplitude of the ΔX during 0440–0510 UT is shown to be consistent with the characteristics of prompt penetration electric field disturbances. Most importantly, the density pulse event caused enhancements in the equatorial electrojet strength and the peak height of the F layer (h m F 2 ) over the Indian dip equatorial sector. Furthermore, the concomitant enhancements in electrojet current and F layer movement over the dip equator observed during this space weather event suggest a common driver of prompt electric field disturbance at this time. Such simultaneous variations are found to be absent during magnetically quiet days. In the absence of significant change in solar wind velocity and magnetospheric substorm activity, these observations point toward perceptible prompt electric field disturbance over the dip equator driven by the overcompression of the magnetosphere by solar wind density enhancement.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

A multispacecraft event study of Pc5 ultralow-frequency waves in the magnetosphere and their external drivers

We investigate a quiet time event of magnetospheric Pc5 ultralow-frequency (ULF) waves and their likely external drivers using multiple spacecraft observations. Enhancements of electric and magnetic field perturbations in two narrow frequency bands, 1.5–2 mHz and 3.5–4 mHz, were observed over a large radial distance range from r ~ 5 to 11 RE. During the first half of this event, perturbations were mainly observed in the transverse components and only in the 3.5–4 mHz band. In comparison, enhancements were stronger during the second half in both transverse and compressional components and in both frequency bands. No indication of field line resonances was found for these magnetic field perturbations. Perturbations in these two bands were also observed in the magnetosheath, but not in the solar wind dynamic pressure perturbations. For the first interval, good correlations between the flow perturbations in the magnetosphere and magnetosheath and an indirect signature for Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) vortices suggest K-H surface waves as the driver. For the second interval, good correlations are found between the magnetosheath dynamic pressure perturbations, magnetopause deformation, and magnetospheric waves, all in good correspondence to interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) discontinuities. The characteristics of these perturbations can be explained by being driven by foreshock perturbations resulting from these IMF discontinuities. This event shows that even during quiet periods, K-H-unstable magnetopause and ion foreshock perturbations can combine to create a highly dynamic magnetospheric ULF wave environment

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Effect of the space weather conditions on the Earth magnetosphere soft X-ray emissivity

The aim of the study is to model and characterize the soft X-ray emissivity on the Earth magnetosphere for different space weather conditions (SWC), providing information to interpret the soft X-ray measurements of the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer space mission. The MHD code pluto in spherical coordinates is used to perform parametric studies with respect to the solar wind (SW) dynamic pressure (considering density and velocity effects independently) as well as the IMF intensity and orientation, predicting the soft X-ray emissivity for different SWC. The integrated soft X-ray emissivity inside the magnetosheath is calculated as a proxy of the soft X-ray emission dependencies with the SWC independently of the satellite orbit and camera line of sight. The analysis indicates fluctuations of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation and magnitude may significantly affect the measured soft X-ray emission although changes in the SW dynamic pressure should be the main source of variability. The southward IMF orientation leads to the configuration with the largest soft X-ray emissivity and northward to the lowest. Strongly distorted magnetospheres explored in configurations showing SW and IMF parameters comparable to the impact of interplanetary coronal mass ejections may show a decrease of the soft X-ray emissivity as the IMF magnitude increases, explained by the strong magnetosphere compression and constriction of the magnetosheath region where the soft X-ray emissivity maximum is located. The simulations also indicate large excursions of the soft X-ray emissivity maximum inside the magnetosheath as the IMF magnitude and SW dynamic pressure fluctuate particularly for radial and ecliptic IMF orientations.

Earth↗
DOE OSTI2015

Diamagnetic reduction in the magnetic field above a sunspot in the gamma-ray burst on July 14, 2000

Earlier, the authors proposed a model for describing the motion of trapped ions accelerated to energies of 10–100 MeV/nucleon in an electric field of 0.01–0.1 V/cm with a nonzero magnetic-field-aligned component in coronal solar loops with a characteristic size of ∼100 000 km. The simulation results were used to interpret the properties of gamma-ray sources in a powerful solar burst that occurred on July 14, 2000. According to the proposed model, the gamma-ray source emitting lines with photon energies of 4.1–6.7 MeV was located above the sunspot and the source of the 2.223-MeV line coincided with the region of the observed drop-out of accelerated ions into dense layers of the solar atmosphere in the sunspot, where a short-term reduction in the photospheric magnetic field by about 100 G was simultaneously observed. An idea is stated and justified for the first time that the local reduction in the magnetic field in the sunspot is caused by the diamagnetic effect created by accelerated ions in the magnetic mirror of the coronal magnetic flux rope above the sunspot.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Role of IMF B y in the prompt electric field disturbances over equatorial ionosphere during a space weather event

On 7 January 2005 (Ap=40) prompt penetration electric field perturbations of opposite polarities were observed over Thumba and Jicamarca on a few occasions during 13:45–16:30 UT. However, the electric field was found to be eastward during 14:45–15:30 UT over both Thumba and Jicamarca contrary to the general expectation wherein opposite polarities are expected at nearly antipodal points. On closer scrutiny, three important observational features are noticed during 14:10–15:15 UT. First, during 14:10–14:45 UT, despite increasing southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) B z condition, the already westward electric field over Thumba weakened (less westward) while the eastward electric field over Jicamarca intensified (more eastward). Second, the electric field not only became anomalously eastward over Thumba but also got intensified further during 14:45–15:00 UT similar to Jicamarca. Third, during 15:00–15:15 UT, despite IMF B z remaining steadily southward, the eastward electric field continued to intensify over Thumba but weakened over Jicamarca. It is suggested that the changes in IMF B y component under southward IMF B z condition are responsible for skewing the ionospheric equipotential patterns over the dip equator in such a way that Thumba came into the same DP2 cell as that of Jicamarca leading to anomalous electric field variations. Magnetic field measurements along the Indian and Jicamarca longitude sectors and changes in high-latitude ionospheric convection patterns provide credence to this proposition. Therefore, in conclusion, the present investigation shows that the variations in IMF B y are fundamentally important to understand the prompt penetration effects over low latitudes.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Helicity Sign of Flux Transfer Event Flux Ropes and Its Relationship to the Guide Field and Hall Physics in Magnetic Reconnection at the Magnetopause

Flux Transfer Events (FTEs) are transient magnetic flux ropes typically found at the Earth's magnetopause on the dayside. While it is known that FTEs are generated by magnetic reconnection, it remains unclear how the details of magnetic reconnection controls their properties. A recent study showed that the helicity sign of FTEs positively correlates with the east-west (B y ) component of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF). With data from the Cluster and Magnetospheric Multiscale missions, we performed a statistical study of 166 quasi force-free FTEs. We focus on their helicity sign and possible association with upstream solar wind conditions and local magnetic reconnection properties. Using both in situ data and magnetic shear modeling, we find that FTEs whose helicity sign corresponds to the IMF B y are associated with moderate magnetic shears while those that do not correspond to the IMF B y are associated with higher magnetic shears. While uncertainty in IMF propagation to the magnetopause may lead to randomness in the determination of the flux rope core field and helicity, we rather propose that for small IMF B y , which corresponds to high shear and low guide field, the Hall pattern of magnetic reconnection determines the FTE core field and helicity sign. In that context we explain how the temporal sequence of multiple X-line formation and the reconnection rate are important in determining the flux rope helicity sign. This work highlights a fundamental connection between kinetic processes at work in magnetic reconnection and the macroscale structure of FTEs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Identification of Kelvin-Helmholtz generated vortices in magnetised fluids

The Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability (KHI), arising from velocity shear across the magnetopause, plays a significant role in the viscous-like transfer of mass, momentum, and energy from the shocked solar wind into the magnetosphere. While the KHI leads to growth of surface waves and vortices, suitable detection methods for these applicable to magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) are currently lacking. A novel method is derived based on the well-established λ-family of hydrodynamic vortex identification techniques, which define a vortex as a local minimum in an adapted pressure field. The J × B Lorentz force is incorporated into this method by using an effective total pressure in MHD, including both magnetic pressure and a pressure-like part of the magnetic tension derived from a Helmholtz decomposition. The λ MHD method is shown to comprise of four physical effects: vortical momentum, density gradients, fluid compressibility, and the rotational part of the magnetic tension. A local three-dimensional MHD simulation representative of near-flank magnetopause conditions (plasma β’s 0.5 – 5 and convective Mach numbers M f ∼ 0.4) under northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is used to validate λ MHD . Analysis shows it correlates well with hydrodynamic vortex definitions, though the level of correlation decreases with vortex evolution. Overall, vortical momentum dominates λ MHD at all times. During the linear growth phase, density gradients act to oppose vortex formation. By the highly nonlinear stage, the formation of small-scale structures leads to a rising importance of the magnetic tension. Compressibility was found to be insignificant throughout. Finally, a demonstration of this method adapted to tetrahedral spacecraft observations is performed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Bursty magnetic reconnection at the Earth's magnetopause triggered by high-speed jets

The impact of high-speed jets—dynamic pressure enhancements in the magnetosheath—on the Earth's magnetopause has been observed to trigger local magnetic reconnection. We perform a three-dimensional hybrid simulation to study the magnetosheath and magnetopause under turbulent conditions using a quasi-radial southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). In contrast to quasi-steady reconnection with a strong southward IMF, we show that after the impact of a jet on the magnetopause, the magnetopause moves inward, the current sheet is compressed and intensified and signatures of local magnetic reconnection are observed, showing similarities to spacecraft measurements.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Turbulent plasma transport across the Earth's low-latitude boundary layer: NAKAMURA AND DAUGHTON

The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is a key process for the transport of solar wind plasma into the Earth's magnetosphere when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is northward. Previous kinetic simulations for symmetric layers have demonstrated that the flow vortices compress the magnetopause current layer and induce magnetic reconnection, leading to the rapid streaming of solar wind plasma into the vortices along newly reconnected field lines. Using fully kinetic 3-D simulations, we demonstrate that the inherent density asymmetry across the boundary layer leads to a spectrum of oblique interchange instabilities along the magnetospheric side of the vortices. These secondary instabilities give rise to turbulence, which transports the solar wind plasma originally stored within the flow vortices deep into the magnetosphere. Simple estimates suggest that this turbulent transport may contribute significantly to the formation of the Earth's low-latitude boundary layer and the cold-dense plasma sheet during prolonged periods of northward IMF.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Identification of the dominant ULF wave mode and generation mechanism for obliquely propagating waves in the Earth's foreshock

Abstract We discuss mechanisms of the generation of ultralow frequency (ULF) upstream waves in the terrestrial foreshock that are essential for the acceleration of ions in space plasmas. The analysis is based on global hybrid kinetic simulations of the magnetosphere that provide realistic environment for the growth of the ULF waves in a quasi‐radial configuration of the interplanetary magnetic field. We focus on a long‐debated problem of the generation mechanism of oblique and parallel ULF waves and provide quantitative arguments in favor of the ion/ion cyclotron resonant instability. We also show that parallel propagating waves are predominantly generated in this configuration, but geometrical effects related to the phase space density in wave vector space lead to apparent predominance of obliquely propagating waves. Correspondence between the results outlined above and previously published experimental claims is thoroughly discussed and our results are shown to be consistent with spacecraft measurements.

Strumik, M.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Van Allen Probes observation and modeling of chorus excitation and propagation during weak geomagnetic activities

We report correlated data on nightside chorus waves and energetic electrons during two small storm periods: 1 November 2012 (Dst ≈ –45) and 14 January 2013 (Dst ≈ –18). The Van Allen Probes simultaneously observed strong chorus waves at locations L = 5.8 – 6.3, with a lower frequency band 0.1–0.5fce and a peak spectral density ~10 –4 nT 2 /Hz. In the same period, the fluxes and anisotropy of energetic (~10–300 keV) electrons were greatly enhanced in the interval of large negative interplanetary magnetic field Bz. Using a bi-Maxwellian distribution to model the observed electron distribution, we perform ray tracing simulations to show that nightside chorus waves are indeed produced by the observed electron distribution with a peak growth for a field-aligned propagation approximately between 0.3f ce and 0.4f ce , at latitude <7°. Moreover, chorus waves launched with initial normal angles either θ < 90° or > 90° propagate along the field either northward or southward and then bounce back either away from Earth for a lower frequency or toward Earth for higher frequencies. The current results indicate that nightside chorus waves can be excited even during weak geomagnetic activities in cases of continuous injection associated with negative Bz. Furthermore, we examine a dayside event during a small storm C on 8 May 2014 (Dst ≈ –45) and find that the observed anisotropic energetic electron distributions potentially contribute to the generation of dayside chorus waves, but this requires more thorough studies in the future.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Recurrent embedded substorms during the 19 October 1998 GEM storm

The 18–19 October 1998 GEM (Geospace Environment Modeling) storm was associated with a long interval of remarkably steady southward interplanetary magnetic field. Here in this study we demonstrate that classical substorms occurred throughout the interval and that the storm appears to be composed of the typical two-mode response consisting of a recurrent loading/unloading cycle on a timescale of approximately 2–4 h together with an episodic/bursty continuously driven component operating on a timescale of 5–15 min. The loading/unloading activity is manifested as typical poleward expanding “embedded” substorms (embedded into the auroral oval) emerging from the equatorward regions of the auroral distribution, while the continuously driven component is manifested by the episodic ejection of streamers equatorward from poleward boundary activations. The streamers subsequently produce torches and eastward drifting omega bands which likely moderate the need for substorms to occur more frequently than observed.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Van Allen Probes observations of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves triggered by enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure

Magnetospheric compression due to impact of enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure P dyn has long been considered as one of the generation mechanisms of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves. Here, with the Van Allen Probe-A observations, we identify three EMIC wave events that are triggered by P dyn enhancements under prolonged northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) quiet time preconditions. They are in contrast to one another in a few aspects. Event 1 occurs in the middle of continuously increasing P dyn while Van Allen Probe-A is located outside the plasmapause at postmidnight and near the equator (magnetic latitude (MLAT) ~ -3°). Event 2 occurs by a sharp P dyn pulse impact while Van Allen Probe-A is located inside the plasmapause in the dawn sector and rather away from the equator (MLAT ~ 12°). Event 3 is characterized by amplification of a preexisting EMIC wave by a sharp P dyn pulse impact while Van Allen Probe-A is located outside the plasmapause at noon and rather away from the equator (MLAT ~ -15°). These three events represent various situations where EMIC waves can be triggered by P dyn increases. Several common features are also found among the three events. (i) The strongest wave is found just above the He + gyrofrequency. (ii) The waves are nearly linearly polarized with a rather oblique propagation direction (~28° to ~39° on average). (iii) The proton fluxes increase in immediate response to the P dyn impact, most significantly in tens of keV energy, corresponding to the proton resonant energy. (iv) The temperature anisotropy with T ⊥ > T || is seen in the resonant energy for all the events, although its increase by the P dyn impact is not necessarily always significant. Finally, the last two points (iii) and (iv) may imply that in addition to the temperature anisotropy, the increase of the resonant protons must have played a critical role in triggering the EMIC waves by the enhanced P dyn impact.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Foreshock wave interaction with the magnetopause: Signatures of mode conversion

Our previous hybrid simulation under a radial interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and a supercritical solar wind Mach number has shown that foreshock compressional waves originated from the quasi–parallel (Q–∥) shock are mode converted to kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs) at the Alfvén resonance surface of the subsolar magnetopause. In this paper, three–dimensional global dayside mode conversion is investigated for cases under various solar wind conditions using the global hybrid model. The global patterns and propagations of KAWs are distinguished and presented. Under a near–critical Mach number ( M A =3), KAW structures due to mode conversion exhibit a feature of broader excitation regions in the magnetopause boundary layer (MPBL) compared to supercritical Mach number ( M A =5) shocks. For cases with an oblique IMF with supercritical Mach numbers ( M A =5), the amplitude of magnetosheath compressional waves is larger at the quasi–parallel shock (Q–∥) than at the quasi–perpendicular (Q–⊥) shock. Downstream of the Q–∥ shock, there is a general trend that the perturbations of density ( N ) and magnetic field ( B ) change from predominantly in–phase in the magnetosheath to antiphase near the MPBL. While downstream of the Q–⊥ shock, an antiphase relation between N and B is dominant throughout the magnetosheath and magnetopause except near the shock transition. The compressional drivers are found to reach an extended region of the magnetopause due to the combined effects of wave propagation in the plasma frame and flow convection, leading to a broad region of mode conversion at the magnetopause. Subsequently, the resulting KAWs can be carried to the regions downstream of the Q–⊥ shock owing to the flow convection at the magnetopause. Furthermore the KAWs propagate poleward along the geomagnetic field lines and meanwhile are carried tailward by the ambient flows, and they are more intense in the downstream of Q–∥ shocks than downstream of Q–⊥ shocks.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Mass and energy transfer across the Earth's magnetopause caused by vortex-induced reconnection: Mass and energy transfer by K-H vortex

When the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is strongly northward, a boundary layer that contains a considerable amount of plasma of magnetosheath origin is often observed along and earthward of the low-latitude magnetopause. Such a pre-existing boundary layer, with a higher density than observed in the adjacent magnetosphere, reduces the local Alfvén speed and allows the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) to grow more strongly. We employ a three-dimensional fully kinetic simulation to model an event observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission in which the spacecraft detected substantial KH waves between a pre-existing boundary layer and the magnetosheath during strong northward IMF. Initial results of this simulation [Nakamura et al., 2017] have successfully demonstrated ion-scale signatures of magnetic reconnection induced by the non-linearly developed KH vortex, which are quantitatively consistent with MMS observations. Furthermore, we quantify the simulated mass and energy transfer processes driven by this vortex-induced reconnection (VIR) and show that during this particular MMS event (i) mass enters a new mixing layer formed by the VIR more efficiently from the pre-existing boundary layer side than from the magnetosheath side, (ii) mixed plasmas within the new mixing layer convect tailward along the magnetopause at more than half the magnetosheath flow speed, and (iii) energy dissipation in localized VIR dissipation regions results in a strong parallel electron heating within the mixing layer. Finally, the quantitative agreements between the simulation and MMS observations allow new predictions that elucidate how the mass and energy transfer processes occur near the magnetopause during strong northward IMF.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP): A New NASA Mission

The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) is a revolutionary mission that simultaneously investigates two of the most important overarching issues in Heliophysics today: the acceleration of energetic particles and interaction of the solar wind with the local interstellar medium. While seemingly disparate, these are intimately coupled because particles accelerated in the inner heliosphere play critical roles in the outer heliospheric interaction. Selected by NASA in 2018, IMAP is planned to launch in 2024. The IMAP spacecraft is a simple sun-pointed spinner in orbit about the Sun-Earth L1 point. IMAP’s ten instruments provide a complete and synergistic set of observations to simultaneously dissect the particle injection and acceleration processes at 1 AU while remotely probing the global heliospheric interaction and its response to particle populations generated by these processes. In situ at 1 AU, IMAP provides detailed observations of solar wind electrons and ions; suprathermal, pickup, and energetic ions; and the interplanetary magnetic field. For the outer heliosphere interaction, IMAP provides advanced global observations of the remote plasma and energetic ions over a broad energy range via energetic neutral atom imaging, and precise observations of interstellar neutral atoms penetrating the heliosphere. Complementary observations of interstellar dust and the ultraviolet glow of interstellar neutrals further deepen the physical understanding from IMAP. IMAP also continuously broadcasts vital real-time space weather observations. Finally, IMAP engages the broader Heliophysics community through a variety of innovative opportunities. This paper summarizes the IMAP mission at the start of Phase A development.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Studying Dawn‐Dusk Asymmetries of Mercury's Magnetotail Using MHD‐EPIC Simulations

Abstract MESSENGER has observed a lot of dawn‐dusk asymmetries in Mercury's magnetotail, such as the asymmetries of the cross‐tail current sheet thickness and the occurrence of flux ropes, dipolarization events, and energetic electron injections. In order to obtain a global pictures of Mercury's magnetotail dynamics and the relationship between these asymmetries, we perform global simulations with the magnetohydrodynamics with embedded particle‐in‐cell (MHD‐EPIC) model, where Mercury's magnetotail region is covered by a PIC code. Our simulations show that the dawnside current sheet is thicker, the plasma density is larger, and the electron pressure is higher than the duskside. Under a strong interplanetary magnetic field driver, the simulated reconnection sites prefer the dawnside. We also found the dipolarization events and the planetward electron jets are moving dawnward while they are moving toward the planet, so that almost all dipolarization events and high‐speed plasma flows concentrate in the dawn sector. The simulation results are consistent with MESSENGER observations.

Chen, Yuxi↗
DOE OSTI2020

First Global Images of Ion Energization in the Terrestrial Foreshock by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer

The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission provides global energetic neutral atom (ENA) observations from the heliosphere and the Earth's magnetosphere, including spatial, temporal, and energy information. IBEX views the magnetosphere from the sides and almost always perpendicular to noon-midnight plane. We report the first ENA images of the energization process in the Earth's ion foreshock and magnetosheath regions. We show ENA flux and spectral images of the dayside magnetosphere with significant energization of ENA plasma sources (above ~2.7 keV) in the region magnetically connected to the Earth's bow shock (BS) in its quasi-parallel configuration of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We also show that the ion energization increases gradually with decreasing IMF-BS angle, suggesting more efficient suprathermal ion acceleration deeper in the quasi-parallel foreshock.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗