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Effect of double layers on magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2009

Robert L. Lysak  and
Mary K. Hudson
Robert L. Lysak
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota
Mary K. Hudson
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College
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Abstract

The earth's auroral zone contains dynamic processes occurring on scales from the length of an auroral zone field line (about 10RE) which characterizes Alfven wave propagation to the scale of microscopic processes which occur over a few Debye lengths (less than 1 km). These processes interact in a time-dependent fashion since the current carried by the Alfven waves can excite microscopic turbulence which can in turn provide dissipation of the Alfven wave energy. This review will first describe the dynamic aspects of auroral current structures with emphasis on consequences for models of microscopic turbulence. In the second part of the paper a number of models of microscopic turbulence will be introduced into a large scale model of Alfven wave propagation to determine the effect of various models on the overall structure of auroral currents. In particular, we will compare the effect of a double layer electric field which scales with the plasma temperature and Debye length with the effect of anomalous resistivity due to electrostatic ion cyclotron turbulence in which the electric field scales with the magnetic field strength. It is found that the double layer model is less diffusive than the resistive model leading to the possibility of narrow, intense current structures.

Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , May 1987 , pp. 351 - 366
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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