Evaluation of contribution from plasma waves to energy dissipation associated with magnetotail dynamics

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24540483
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Space and upper atmospheric physics
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
• Principal Investigator: SHINOHARA Iku 独立行政法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 准教授 (20301723)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 磁気リコネクション / プラズマ波動 / 磁気圏尾部 / エネルギー散逸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using plasma and electromagnetic fields data obtained by Geotail satellite over 20 year observation in the Earth's magnetotail, the contribution of the plasma waves to the energy dissipation associated with the magnetotail dynamics, e.g. (1) in magnetic reconnection region and (2) in dipolarization front, is evaluated. As a result of our data analysis, we concluded that less contribution from the plasma wave activity to the magnetic field energy dissipation in the reconnection diffusion region. However, the plasma waves may affect the magnetotail dynamics via the electron heating that is caused by the low-frequency plasma wave excited in the ion-electron decoupling region.

Free Research Field

磁気圏物理学