Open AccessFirst IBEX observations of the terrestrial plasma sheet and a possible disconnection event
Author(s) -
McComas D. J.,
Dayeh M. A.,
Funsten H. O.,
Fuselier S. A.,
Goldstein J.,
Jahn J.M.,
Janzen P.,
Mitchell D. G.,
Petrinec S. M.,
Reisenfeld D. B.,
Schwadron N. A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2010ja016138
Subject(s) - magnetosheath , plasma sheet , magnetosphere , physics , energetic neutral atom , plasma , substorm , magnetopause , heliosphere , geophysics , heliospheric current sheet , solar wind , astrophysics , interplanetary magnetic field , astronomy , quantum mechanics
The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission has recently provided the first all‐sky maps of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) emitted from the edge of the heliosphere as well as the first observations of ENAs from the Moon and from the magnetosheath stagnation region at the nose of the magnetosphere. This study provides the first IBEX images of the ENA emissions from the nightside magnetosphere and plasma sheet. We show images from two IBEX orbits: one that displays typical plasma sheet emissions, which correlate reasonably well with a model magnetic field, and a second that shows a significant intensification that may indicate a near‐Earth (∼10 R E behind the Earth) disconnection event. IBEX observations from ∼0.5–6 keV indicate the simultaneous addition of both a hot (several keV) and colder (∼700 eV) component during the intensification; if IBEX directly observed magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail, the hot component may signify the plasma energization.