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Energy Flux Densities at Dipolarization Fronts
Author(s) -
Liu C. M.,
Fu H. S.,
Yu Y. Q.,
Lu H. Y.,
Liu W. L.,
Xu Y.,
Giles B. L.,
Burch J. L.
Publication year - 2021
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 - 10.1029/2021gl094932
Subject(s) - energy flux , flux (metallurgy) , kinetic energy , physics , enthalpy , energy transformation , spacecraft , poynting vector , heat flux , atomic physics , ion , atmospheric sciences , computational physics , mechanics , thermodynamics , heat transfer , materials science , classical mechanics , magnetic field , quantum mechanics , astronomy , metallurgy
Dipolarization fronts (DFs) have been suggested as crucial energy conversion sites contributing significantly to global energy transfer in the magnetosphere. However, energy partitioning of DF‐driven energy transfer remains hitherto elusive. Using high‐cadence data from MMS spacecraft, we present a detailed investigation of energy flux densities at two DFs with/without surface ripples. We find that during both DF intervals, electron enthalpy flux increases dramatically, carries the greatest energy, and well correlates with local energy conversion. Poynting flux also increases but contributes to a relatively smaller portion. Ion enthalpy flux which in magnitude is slightly smaller than electron enthalpy flux barely changes. Particle kinetic energy and heat fluxes are negligible. Strong difference in energy fluxes observed by different spacecraft is found at the rippled DF, indicating three‐dimensional energy transport. These results indicate that energy budgets at the DFs are dominated by electron physics, rather than ion dynamics suggested by previous studies.