Plasma Clouds in the Magnetosphere (original) (raw)

Abstract

Equatorial .observations by the geostationary satellite ATS 5 of the charged particles on auroral lines of force reveal the frequent injection of plasma into this region of the magnetosphere. These intrusions of hot plasma are found to have a one-to-one correspondence with magnetospheric substorms. An injection is assumed to correspond to an inward flow from the plasma sheet in the magnetotail. This flow seems to subside gradually so that injection eventually ceases. The net result is the insertion of a relatively discrete set of particles, i.e., a 'plasma cloud,' on lines of force that are not normally involved in the flow of the plasma sheet particles. The clouds of freshly injected plasma are dispersed by the earth's magnetic and electric fields such that complicated energy structure is generated.

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References (22)

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