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Drift paths of ions composing multiple‐nose spectral structures near the inner edge of the plasma sheet
Author(s) -
Ferradas C. P.,
Zhang J.C.,
Spence H. E.,
Kistler L. M.,
Larsen B. A.,
Reeves G.,
Skoug R.,
Funsten H.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl071359
Subject(s) - plasma sheet , ion , physics , proton , magnetosphere , solar wind , plasma , van allen probes , atomic physics , orbit (dynamics) , helium , van allen radiation belt , aerospace engineering , quantum mechanics , engineering
We present a case study of the H + , He + , and O + multiple‐nose structures observed by the Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron instrument on board Van Allen Probe A over one complete orbit on 28 September 2013. Nose structures are observed near the inner edge of the plasma sheet and constitute the signatures of ion drift in the highly dynamic environment of the inner magnetosphere. We find that the multiple noses are intrinsically associated with variations in the solar wind. Backward ion drift path tracings show new details of the drift trajectories of these ions; i.e., multiple noses are formed by ions with a short drift time from the assumed source location to the inner region and whose trajectories (1) encircle the Earth different number of times or (2) encircle the Earth equal number of times but with different drift time, before reaching the observation site.