Differing Properties of Two Ion-Scale Magnetopause Flux Ropes
Abstract
In this paper, we present results from the Magnetospheric Multiscale constellation encountering two ion-scale, magnetopause flux ropes. The two flux ropes exhibit very different properties and internal structure. In the first flux rope, there are large differences in the currents observed by different satellites, indicating variations occurring over sub-di spatial scales, and time scales on the order of the ion gyroperiod. In addition, there is intense wave activity and particle energization. The interface between the two flux ropes exhibits oblique whistler wave activity. In contrast, the second flux rope is mostly quiescent, exhibiting little activity throughout the encounter. Changes in the magnetic topology and field line connectivity suggest that we are observing flux rope coalescence.
Publication Date
12-7-2017
Journal Title
JGR: Space Physics
Publisher
AGU
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Alm, L.; Farrugia, C. J.; Paulson, K. W.; Argall, M. R.; Torbert, R. B.; Burch, J. L.; Ergun, R. E.; Russell, C. T.; Strangeway, R. J.; Khotyaintsev, Y. V.; Lindqvist, P. -A.; Marklund, G. T.; Giles, B. L. (2018). Differing Properties of Two Ion-Scale Magnetopause Flux Ropes, JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS. Vol. 123, No. 1, 114-131. DOI: 10.1002/2017JA024525