themis and the amazing magnetic flux rope d. g. sibeck project scientist nasa/goddard space flight...
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THEMISand
the Amazing Magnetic Flux Rope
D. G. Sibeck
Project Scientist
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
We want to testing advanced numerical simulations
Looped Simulation from Nick Omidi:
Shows generation of FTE bulges/blobs moving antisunward from points of origin near the subsolar point.
Are they real?
Flux Ropes or Boundary Waves?
Let THEMIS-the blindfoldedGreek goddessof impartial justice decide!
Flux ropes Boundary wavesbulge outward bulge one wayin both directions or the other
AEDCB AEDCB
Observation and Interpretation
40
0
THEMIS-E
40
0
THEMIS-D
40
0
THEMIS-C
40
0
THEMIS-A
40
022:00 22:01 22:02 22:03 22:04
UT
THEMIS-B
THEMIS May 20, 2007
-40
0
40THEMIS-D
13.0
12.5
12.0
11.5
11.0
10.5
10.0
8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0
X (RE)
Magnetosphere
Magnetosheath
30 nT
20 nT
10 nT13.0
12.5
12.0
11.5
11.0
10.5
10.0
8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0
X (RE)
A
ED
C
B
Δ Bxy
Dusk MP
Sphere
Sheath
-,+
We used the 5 THEMIS spacecraftto construct cross-sections indicatinga flux rope detached from themagnetosphere
Flux Ropes Power the Magnetosphere!
1,500,000Amps
30 kiloVolt battery in space
1 Earth Radius
+ -
Flux ropepumps650,000Amp currentinto the arctic!
+ -
Summary
• 1. We used the 5 THEMIS spacecraft to identify a giant magnetic flux rope at the outer boundary of the Earth’s magnetic field.
• 2. We showed that the flux rope was detached from the magnetopause.
• 3. Flux ropes like this one apply 30 kiloVolts to the Earth and drives 650,000 amp currents into the polar cap.
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