Lubomir Prech

Magnetopause motion driven by interplanetary magnetic field variations

We use previously reported observations of hot flow anomalies (HFAs) and foreshock cavities to predict the characteristics of corresponding features in the dayside magnetosheath, at the magnetopause, and in the outer dayside magnetosphere. We compare these predictions with Interball 1, Magion 4, and GOES 8/GOES 9 observations of magneto-pause motion on the dusk flank of the magnetosphere from 1800 UT on January 17 to 0200 UT on January 18, 1996. As the model predicts, strong (factor of 2 or more) density enhancements bound regions of depressed magnetosheath densities and/or outward magnetopause displacements. During the most prominent event, the geosynchronous spacecraft observe an interval of depressed magnetospheric magnetic field strength bounded by two enhancements. Simultaneous Wind observations indicate that the intervals of depressed magnetosheath densities and outward magnetopause displacements correspond to periods in which the east/west (By) component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) decreases to values near zero rather than to variations in the solar wind dynamic pressure, the north/south component of the IMF, or the IMF cone angle.

Fast measurements of parameters of the Solar Wind using the BMSW instrument

Design of the plasma spectrometer BMSW (Fast Monitor of the Solar Wind, possessing high temporal resolution) is described in the paper, as well as its characteristics and modes of operation. Some examples of measurements of various properties of the solar wind, made with this instrument installed onboard the high-apogee satellite Spektr-R, are presented.

Two‐point measurements of the magnetopause: Interball observations

The impulsive penetration model predicts that blobs of solar wind plasma penetrate the magnetosphere by becoming detached from the magnetopause. If so, negative radial density gradients should be common near the magnetopause. We present the results of case and statistical studies of simultaneous Interball 1 and Magion 4 omnidirectional plasma sensors (VDP) plasma observations during magnetopause passes. The spacecraft observe very similar features when their interspacing is small. By contrast, the spacecraft located farther radially outward invariably observes densities greater than or equal to those seen at the spacecraft nearer Earth when the interspacing increases. The observations are consistent with the standard interpretation in which a boundary layer of plasma with intermediate densities often lies sandwiched between the magnetosheath and the magnetosphere proper. Blobs of magnetosheath or boundary layer plasma rarely, if ever, become detached from the magnetopause.

Dynamic properties of small scale solar wind plasma fluctuations

The paper presents the latest results of the studies of small-scale fluctuations in a turbulent flow of solar wind (SW) using measurements with extremely high temporal resolution (up to 0.03 s) of the bright monitor of SW (BMSW) plasma spectrometer operating on astrophysical SPECTR-R spacecraft at distances up to 350 000 km from the Earth. The spectra of SW ion flux fluctuations in the range of scales between 0.03 and 100 s are systematically analysed. The difference of slopes in low- and high-frequency parts of spectra and the frequency of the break point between these two characteristic slopes was analysed for different conditions in the SW. The statistical properties of the SW ion flux fluctuations were thoroughly analysed on scales less than 10 s. A high level of intermittency is demonstrated. The extended self-similarity of SW ion flux turbulent flow is constantly observed. The approximation of non-Gaussian probability distribution function of ion flux fluctuations by the Tsallis statistics shows the non-extensive character of SW fluctuations. Statistical characteristics of ion flux fluctuations are compared with the predictions of a log-Poisson model. The log-Poisson parametrization of the structure function scaling has shown that well-defined filament-like plasma structures are, as a rule, observed in the turbulent SW flows.

INTERBALL magnetotail boundary case studies

Abstract We present two examples of INTERBALL-1 data near both the high and low-latitude tail magnetopause (MP) under disturbed conditions. For the high-latitude case, MAGION-4 data determine the scales of the MP current sheets which are in the order of 100–500 km for the main ones, 50–200 km for Flux Transfer Events (FTEs) and a few km for the fine structures and ULF turbulence. The MP speed was 15–30 km/s. The energetic protons in the magnetosheath (MSH) provide evidence of reconnection upstream of the spacecraft (S/C). The tailward flows grow for the northward MSH magnetic field when the reconnection site is believed to be shifted tailward of the cusp. The inner boundary layer (BL) after the disturbance consists of tailward and earthward flowing plasma of MSH origin and cold mantle plasma flowing tailward The earthward flow is evidence of reconnection tailward of the S/C, which is regarded as a specific feature of the disturbed conditions. Local production of a plasma-sheet-like plasma at high latitudes is argued based on the inner BL plasma characteristics. The following features are observed in both cases: (a) FTEs for both northward and southward MSH fields; (b) waves in the current sheet vicinities over ten mV/m and 15 nT peak-to-peak; (c) electron fluxes with scales down to a few km with extra heating especially parallel to the magnetic field; (d) outer turbulent boundary layers with a deflected magnetic field; (e) ions with time-energy dispersion-like features and deflected ion fluxes. In the downstream dawn region at the transition between the low-latitude boundary layer and the plasma sheet (LLBL/PS), multiple MP encounters are observed. In the LLBL parallel electron intensifications correlate with ULF magnetic fluctuations.

A behaviour of electron and ion energy and angular distribution during the active APEX experiment

Abstract The APEX project (Active Plasma Experiment) involves two spacecrafts moving along the same polar orbit (perigeum 440 km, apogeum 3080 km). The distance between these spacecrafts can be controlled in a wide range - from 1 to 1000 km, enabling a variety of two-point measurements. The principal feature of the experiment is an electron and ion gun, with variable parameters of injected beams, mounted on board the main satellite. Both objects are provided with fast ionelectron energy spectrometers having energy range from 50 eV to 30 keV. The spectrometers cover a full 4p of angular directions. This paper explains experimental possibilities offered by the APEX set-up, especially for the study of artificial disturbances created by the electron gun, and presents first results on the ion and electron distribution function measurements. The most interesting observation is a similarity between the undisturbed energy distribution in the polar region and that resulting from the electron beam-plasma interaction in lower latitudes.

Observation of Fast Variations of the Helium-Ion Abundance in the Solar Wind

This paper describes the results of studying the helium component of the solar-wind ion-flux measurement by the BMSW instrument on the Spektr-R satellite with a time resolution of 3 s. In contrast to most previous works that presented values averaged over large (hourly average or daily average) intervals, we have shown that the relative helium-ion abundance in the solar wind experiences considerable (by a few percent and even 10%) variations on such short intervals as 10 seconds or even several seconds.

Response of the electron energy distribution to an artificially emitted electron beam: Apex experiment

Abstract The paper is based on the electron and ion energy spectra measurement on board the main spacecraft of the APEX mission. During the active phase of the experiment an intense electron beam was emitted from the main satellite. The basic cycle of the electron injection is formed by current pulses of different frequencies, duration and intensity. The spacecraft potential changes due to the gun operation were compensated by a low energy Xe plasma generator. The data show that the response of the environment to the beam emission depends not only on injection parameters but on the spacecraft position and orientation with respect to the magnetic field as well. The typical response is an increase of the intensity of the low energy (less than 1 keV) electrons in all directions. In addition, strong field aligned fluxes of electrons and/or ions are observed with energies below the gun energy. An attempt to classify different types of response and to find possible mechanisms which can explain the observed phenomena is made in the present paper.

Dynamics of the polar cap boundaries: Multipoint measurements

Abstract The present paper is devoted to a detail study of the dynamics of the polar cap boundaries. This study is based on the two point measurements of the APEX project. Two satellites of the APEX mission have moved along a similar polar orbit and the distance between them has been controlled in a wide range (up to 1000 km). Onboard the both spacecrafts the ion/electron energy/angular distribution has been measured by similar instrumentation in the energy range 0.1–25 keV. The data from these spectrometers allow us to estimate the movement of the boundaries in the auroral region under different magnetospheric conditions. This motion is closely related to the problem of the temporal evolution of different structures at the given place, their lifetime etc. This evolution is studied in the time scale from 3 minutes, which corresponds to the distance between the spacecrafts, up to several hours. It is shown that the velocity of the auroral oval displacement can reach 7° per hour for the short time interval. The position of the boundary between discrete and diffuse auroras changes much faster than the polar oval itself.

Rapid variations of the value and direction of the solar wind ion flux

This paper describes the results of the investigation of variations of the value and direction of the solar wind ion flux, measured with high time resolution (up to 31 msec). Unlike previous papers that mainly represent values measured at intervals of several minutes, we have shown that the direction of the ion flux in the solar wind can undergo high (up to several degrees) and rapid (up to several seconds) variations.