Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5619-1577
N/A
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5824-2852
N/A
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Abstract
The Polar satellite recorded two reconnection exhausts within 6 min on 1 April 2001 across a subsolar magnetopause that displayed a symmetric plasma density, but different out-of-plane magnetic field signatures for similar solar wind conditions. The first magnetopause crossing displayed a bipolar guide field variation in a weak external guide field consistent with a symmetric Hall field from a single X line. The subsequent crossing represents the first observation of a tripolar guide field perturbation at Earth's magnetopause in a strong guide field. This perturbation consists of a significant guide field enhancement between two narrow guide field depressions. A particle-in-cell simulation for the prevailing conditions across this second event resulted in a magnetic island between two simulated X lines across which a tripolar guide field developed consistent with the observation. The simulated island supports a scenario whereby Polar encountered the asymmetric quadrupole Hall magnetic fields between two X lines for symmetric conditions across the magnetopause.
Digital Commons Citation
Eriksson, S.; Cassak, P. A.; Retinò, A.; and Mozer, F. S., "Subsolar magnetopause observation and kinetic simulation of a tripolar guide magnetic field perturbation consistent with a magnetic island" (2016). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 353.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/353
Source Citation
Eriksson, S., Cassak, P. A., Retinò, A., & Mozer, F. S. (2016). Subsolar Magnetopause Observation And Kinetic Simulation Of A Tripolar Guide Magnetic Field Perturbation Consistent With A Magnetic Island. Geophysical Research Letters, 43(7), 3035-3041. http://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068691