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The electron edge of low latitude boundary layer during accelerated flow events
Author(s) -
Gosling J. T.,
Thomsen M. F.,
Bame S. J.,
Onsager T. G.,
Russell C. T.
Publication year - 1990
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/gl017i011p01833
Subject(s) - magnetosheath , magnetosphere , magnetopause , physics , boundary layer , geophysics , electron , plasma , field line , magnetic field , computational physics , mechanics , quantum mechanics
Magnetosheath plasma entering the Earth's magnetosphere to populate the low latitude boundary layer, LLBL, is often accelerated to speeds considerably greater than are observed in the adjacent magnetosheath. Measurements made during such accelerated flow events separate electron and ion edges to the LLBL, with the electron edge being found earthward of the ion edge, electron velocity distributions observed at the edge of the LLBL are often highly structured, exhibiting large asymmetries parallel and antiparallel, as perpendicular, to the local magnetic field. These can consistently be interpreted as time‐of‐flight effects on recently reconnected field lines, and thus are evidence in support of the reconnection interpretation of accelerated plasma flow events.