A simple MHD model for the formation of multiple dipolarization fronts

作者：Guzdar P N^*; Hassam A B; Swisdak M; Sitnov M I

来源：Geophysical Research Letters, 2010, 37(20): L20102.

DOI：10.1029/2010GL045017

A simplified MHD model is proposed that explains characteristic features of dipolarization fronts observed by the five-probe THEMIS mission, and in particular the recurrent or multiple fronts, as structures arising from the nonlinear evolution of the interchange instability of the initial reconnection ejecta in the terrestrial magnetotail. Modeling the effects of the magnetic field curvature and plasma braking by an effective gravity and imposing an initial seed perturbation consistent with the observed dawn-dusk scale of fronts is shown to reproduce the observed variations of the north-south magnetic field, bulk flow plasma velocity, number density and pressure. Citation: Guzdar, P. N., A. B. Hassam, M. Swisdak, and M. I. Sitnov (2010), A simple MHD model for the formation of multiple dipolarization fronts, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L20102, doi:10.1029/2010GL045017.

• 出版日期2010-10-19