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SAID: A turbulent plasmaspheric boundary layer
Author(s) -
Mishin E. V.,
PuhlQuinn P. A.,
Santolik O.
Publication year - 2010
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 - 10.1029/2010gl042929
Subject(s) - plasmoid , substorm , plasmasphere , geophysics , physics , magnetopause , boundary layer , computational physics , plasma , turbulence , magnetosphere , magnetic reconnection , mechanics , quantum mechanics
This paper presents novel features of subauroral ion drifts (SAID) observed from a unique conjunction of the Cluster, DMSP, and Polar satellites, including the discovery of SAID‐related plasma waves. These observations confirm and expand on our proposed concept of the SAID channel being a turbulent boundary layer, formed via a short circuit of the substorm‐injected plasmoid by the plasmasphere. We show that SAID formation is related to enhanced lower hybrid/fast magnetosonic waves. Their excitation leads to anomalous circuit resistivity and magnetic diffusion, similar to the well‐documented plasmoid‐magnetic barrier problem, including impulsive penetration at the magnetopause.