Plasma sheet structure in the magnetotail: kinetic simulation and comparison with satellite observations
Plasma Physics
2015-06-26 v3 Space Physics
Abstract
We use the results of a three-dimensional kinetic simulation of an Harris current sheet to propose an explanation and to reproduce the ISEE-1/2, Geotail, and Cluster observations of the magnetotail current sheet structure. Current sheet flapping, current density bifurcation, and reconnection are explained as the results of the kink and tearing instabilities, which dominate the current sheet evolution.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0308034,
title = {Plasma sheet structure in the magnetotail: kinetic simulation and comparison with satellite observations},
author = {Paolo Ricci and Giovanni Lapenta and J. U. Brackbill},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0308034},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
Submitted to Geophys. Res. Lett. (2003)