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The magnetopause electron layer along the distant magnetotail
Author(s) -
Baker D. N.,
Stone E. C.
Publication year - 1977
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/gl004i004p00133
Subject(s) - magnetopause , electron , physics , magnetosheath , magnetosphere , geophysics , spacecraft , dissipation , atomic physics , magnetic field , computational physics , astronomy , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
An energetic electron layer is found immediately adjacent to, and outside of, the magnetopause surface along the distant magnetotail (−40 ≲ X SM ≲ −15 R E ). The layer has been detected using Caltech instrumentation aboard the earth‐orbiting spacecraft IMP‐8 and is observed for electrons with energies E ≳ 200 keV. The present study shows that such electrons form a layer ∼ 3 R E thick and are strongly streaming in a well‐ordered pattern, especially along the dusk magnetopause. The energy dissipation implied by the persistent flow may be a direct indication of nearly continuous magnetic merging at or near the magnetopause.