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Upstream magnetospheric ion flux tube within a magnetic cloud: Wind/STICS
Author(s) -
Posner Arik,
Liemohn Michael W.,
Zurbuchen Thomas H.
Publication year - 2003
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 - 10.1029/2002gl016116
Subject(s) - outflow , physics , flux (metallurgy) , magnetic reconnection , magnetic flux , magnetic cloud , geophysics , solar wind , flux tube , ion , magnetic field , astrophysics , computational physics , atmospheric sciences , interplanetary magnetic field , meteorology , materials science , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
We present a case study of a remarkable upstream O + and N + ion outflow event. We present observational evidence for spatially structured outflow of these Low Charge State Heavy Ions (LCSHIs) of magnetospheric origin along a small reconnected field line region within the framework of a magnetic cloud of an ICME. From the particles' in situ 3D distribution function we conclude that in this case the interaction of the outflow with the bow shock is small. We conclude further that the gyrophases of outflowing ions at the reconnection point are randomly distributed. This leads to the formation of a flux tube with a specific geometry. In particular, the outflow reveals spatial dispersion and non‐gyrotropy. This result has implications for the size of the dayside reconnection site.