| GEOPHYSICS, ASTRONOMY, AND ASTROPHYSICS |
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Observation of a Sharp Negative Dipolarization Front in the Reconnection Outflow Region |
| ZHOU Meng1,2,4**, HUANG Shi-Yong3, DENG Xiao-Hua1,3, PANG Ye1,4
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1Institute of Space Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031
2Sate Key Laboratory of Space Weather, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190
3School of Electronics and Information, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072
4Institute of Astronomy, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031
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| Cite this article: |
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ZHOU Meng, HUANG Shi-Yong, DENG Xiao-Hua et al 2011 Chin. Phys. Lett. 28 109402 |
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Abstract A sharp dipolarization front (DF) has recently been detected in the Earth's magnetotail and is associated with complex kinetic effects. We present one event where a tailward propagating negative DF (with Bz decreasing sharply to negative value) was observed near a reconnection region. The thickness of the negative DF is comparable with the local ion gyro-radius/inertial length. There is a strong field-aligned current at the front. Electromagnetic whistler wave enhancements are observed around the front, associated with counter-streaming electron beams. We further compare the features of the observed negative DF with the recent kinetic simulation results, as well as the Earthward propagating DFs observed by the THEMIS spacecraft.
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| Keywords:
94.30.C-
94.30.Cl
94.30.Cp
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Received: 03 May 2011
Published: 28 September 2011
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