This paper describes a novel procedure for mapping high-latitude electric fields and currents and their associated magnetic variations, using sets of localized observational data derived from different types of measurements. The technique provides a formalism for incorporating simultaneously such different classes of data as electric fields from radars and satellites, electric currents from radars, and magnetic perturbations at the ground and at satellite heights; the technique also uses available statistical information on the averages and variances of electrodynamic fields. The technique provides a more rigorous way of quantitatively estimating high-latitude electric field and current patterns than other methods and has a capability to quantify the errors in the mapped fields, based on the distribution of available data, their errors, and the statistical variances of the fields. The technique is illustrated by an application to a substorm which was analyzed by Kamide et al. (1982) by an earlier technique.

Mapping electrodynamic features of the high-latitude ionosphere from localized observations: technique

The Spin-plane double probe instrument (SDP) is part of the FIELDS instrument suite of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS). Together with the Axial double probe instrument (ADP) and the Electron Drift Instrument (EDI), SDP will measure the 3-D electric field with an accuracy of 0.5 mV/m over the frequency range from DC to 100 kHz. SDP consists of 4 biased spherical probes extended on 60 m long wire booms 90∘ apart in the spin plane, giving a 120 m baseline for each of the two spin-plane electric field components. The mechanical and electrical design of SDP is described, together with results from ground tests and calibration of the instrument.

/pdf/the-spin-plane-double-probe-electric-field-instrument-for-22mzx2keqx.pdf

The Spin-Plane Double Probe Electric Field Instrument for MMS

The terrestrial ring current is an electric current flowing toroidally around the Earth, centered at the equatorial plane and at altitudes of ;10,000 - 60,000 km. Changes in this current are responsible for global decreases in the Earth's surface magnetic field, which are known as geomagnetic storms. Intense geomagnetic storms have severe effects on technological systems, such as disturbances or even permanent damage to tele- communication and navigation satellites, telecommuni- cation cables, and power grids. The main carriers of the storm ring current are positive ions, with energies from ;1 keV to a few hundred keV, which are trapped by the geomagnetic field and undergo an azimuthal drift. The ring current is formed by the injection of ions originating in the solar wind and the terrestrial ionosphere. The injection process involves electric fields, associated with enhanced magnetospheric convection and/or magneto- spheric substorms. The quiescent ring current is carried mainly by protons of predominantly solar wind origin, while geospace activity tends to increase the abundance (both absolute and relative) of O 1 ions, which are of ionospheric origin. During intense magnetic storms, the O 1 abundance increases dramatically, resulting in a rapid intensification of the ring current and an O 1 dominance around storm maximum. This compositional change affects, among other processes, the decay of the ring current through the species- and energy-dependent charge exchange and wave-particle scattering loss. En- ergetic neutral atoms, products of charge exchange, en- able global imaging of the ring current and are the most promising diagnostic tool of ring current evolution. This review will cover the origin of ring current particles, their transport and acceleration, the effects of composi- tional variations in the ring current, the effects of sub- storms on ring current growth, and the dynamics of ring current decay with an emphasis on the process of charge exchange and the potential for wave scattering loss.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/1999RG900009

The terrestrial ring current: Origin, formation, and decay

We review both observational and theoretical aspects of the generation of auroral radio emissions at the outer planets, trying to organize the former in a coherent frame set by the latter. Important results have been obtained in the past few years on these radio emissions at the five magnetized planets, from the observations of Ulysses at Jupiter and of Wind and other Global Geospace Science spacecraft in Earth orbit, from the reanalysis of Voyager data about Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, from ground-based high frequency-time resolution and full polarization measurements, and from pioneering multispectral observations of the Jovian and Saturnian aurorae (radio/UV/IR). In parallel, considerable progress has been made in their generation theory (Cyclotron-Maser operating in small-scale, laminar, hot-plasma-dominated radio source structures), mostly on the basis of in situ observations of terrestrial radio sources. Particle acceleration and precipitation is also better documented, thanks to in situ measurements in the Earth auroral zones and to multispectral studies of Jupiter and Saturn. Finally, the modeling of the planetary magnetic field and magnetospheric plasma at these two planets has also been considerably improved. To organize the wealth of observational results within a coherent theoretical frame, we emphasize unresolved questions (e.g., planetary radio bursts generation) and contradictions and propose ways to answer them. Our ability, already significant, to perform remote sensing of magnetoplasmas at the giant planets and, hopefully, at other distant radio sources (solar, stellar) in the near future, depends on the good understanding of the physical processes underlying the generation of auroral electromagnetic emissions. The question of the existence of exoplanetary radio emissions and the possibility to detect and study them is briefly discussed.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/98JE01323

Auroral radio emissions at the outer planets: Observations and theories

This paper presents a comprehensive review of dispersive Alfven waves in space and laboratory plasmas. We start with linear properties of Alfven waves and show how the inclusion of ion gyroradius, parallel electron inertia, and finite frequency effects modify the Alfven wave properties. Detailed discussions of inertial and kinetic Alfven waves and their polarizations as well as their relations to drift Alfven waves are presented. Up to date observations of waves and field parameters deduced from the measurements by Freja, Fast, and other spacecraft are summarized. We also present laboratory measurements of dispersive Alfven waves, that are of most interest to auroral physics. Electron acceleration by Alfven waves and possible connections of dispersive Alfven waves with ionospheric-magnetospheric resonator and global field-line resonances are also reviewed. Theoretical efforts are directed on studies of Alfven resonance cones, generation of dispersive Alfven waves, as well their nonlinear interactions with the background plasma and self-interaction. Such topics as the dispersive Alfven wave ponderomotive force, density cavitation, wave modulation/filamentation, and Alfven wave self-focusing are reviewed. The nonlinear dispersive Alfven wave studies also include the formation of vortices and their dynamics as well as chaos in Alfven wave turbulence. Finally, we present a rigorous evaluation of theoretical and experimental investigations and point out applications and future perspectives of auroral Alfven wave physics.

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Small scale alfvénic structure in the aurora

Observations obtained by the Freja satellite at altitudes around 1700 km in the high-latitude magnetosphere are used to study ion energization perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. Investigations ...

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/97JA00855

Ion energization mechanisms at 1700 km in the auroral region

Results are presented from the double-probe electric field instrument on the Freja satellite with particular focus on the fine-structured and dynamic plasma of the upper auroral ionosphere. The high-resolution measurements show frequently occuring intense and irregular fine-scale electric fields similar to those observed at higher altitudes by, for example, the S3-3 and Viking satellites. Whereas the high-altitude fields tend to be directly related to the auroral fine-structure this is not always the case for the low-altitude fields as illustrated by high-resolution data of a pair of very intense (≈ 1 V/m), narrow electric field structures in the post-midnight sector in the large-scale downward field-aligned current region. The structures are found to be associated with an excess of positive space charge (diverging electric fields), dropouts of precipitating electrons as well as depletions of thermal plasma, and significant wave activity. Combined with the scale-size of the structures (≈ 1 km) and the spacing between them (≈ 5 km) these observations suggest that the intense electric fields are related to east-west aligned vortex street structures of black aurora, similar to auroral curls but with opposite sense of rotation (clockwise seen antiparallel to B) and a total absence of auroral emissions. The detection of these structures was made possible by the relatively low inclination of the Freja orbit, which at times is almost tangential to the auroral oval. Thus, the Freja orbit provides a new perspective for studying many nightside auroral phenomena both at smaller scales (vortices) and at larger scales as exemplified by observations of north-south oriented auroral structures caused by rotational arc distortions.

On intense diverging electric fields associated with black aurora

Over 12 months of Freja electric field data have been scanned for subauroral electric fields (SAEF) to enable a comprehensive study of the ionospheric signatures of such electric fields. SAEF are encountered from 1800 to 0200 MLT in agreement with an earlier study. However, a large majority of the SAEF are encountered at a time slightly premidnight (2200 – 2300 MLT), with rather few occurrences before 2000 MLT and after 2400 MLT. Furthermore, the strength of the subauroral electric field is generally much larger for events close to 2200 MLT than for other events. The data confirm that SAEF occur during the substorm recovery phase but also show that SAEF occur earlier during recovery when located close to 2200 MLT than at other local times. The dependence on season and geomagnetic activity is studied, and it is found that the SAEF are more commonly observed at times of high activity when the subauroral electric fields are also generally stronger, except close to winter solstice, when strong electric fields are observed during low activity. The potentials associated with the SAEF and the relation to interplanetary magnetic field By are also studied. The observations are discussed in context with substorm-related field-aligned currents and the midlatitude trough, and we present evidence that support and refine one of the proposed production mechanisms.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/97JA00333

Subauroral electric fields observed by the Freja satellite: A statistical study

Transient ULF pulsations associated with variations in solar wind plasma density observed by the IMP 8 satellite are presently studied in light of observations obtained during a fortuitous alignment of the AMPTE and Viking satellites with respect to the EISCAT Magnetometer Cross. It is found that the isolated 10-min oscillation in solar wind plasma density produced magnetic field compression oscillations within the magnetosphere at the same frequency, thereby enhancing resonant oscillations at approximately twice the frequency which were already present. Support is seen for the periodic solar wind density variation's exciting of a tailward-traveling large-scale magnetosphere wave train which excites local field line resonant oscillations.

Multisatellite and ground-based observations of transient ULF waves

[1] Polar UV images from a 3-month period in winter 1998-1999 are used for a statistical study of polar arcs. The study covers all auroral arcs that are located poleward of the northern auroral ova ...

/pdf/solar-wind-dependence-of-the-occurrence-and-motion-of-polar-3sg8fbe4ia.pdf

Lars Blomberg

Papers

Ion energization mechanisms at 1700 km in the auroral region

On intense diverging electric fields associated with black aurora

Subauroral electric fields observed by the Freja satellite: A statistical study

Multisatellite and ground-based observations of transient ULF waves

Solar wind dependence of the occurrence and motion of polar auroral arcs : A statistical study