First IBEX observations of the terrestrial plasma sheet and a possible disconnection event

D. J. McComas; M. A. Dayeh; H. O. Funsten; S. A. Fuselier; J. Goldstein; J. M. Jahn; P. Janzen; D. G. Mitchell; S. M. Petrinec; D. B. Reisenfeld; N. A. Schwadron

doi:10.1029/2010JA016138

First IBEX observations of the terrestrial plasma sheet and a possible disconnection event

D. J. McComas, M. A. Dayeh, H. O. Funsten, S. A. Fuselier, J. Goldstein, J. M. Jahn, P. Janzen, D. G. Mitchell, S. M. Petrinec, D. B. Reisenfeld, N. A. Schwadron

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Abstract

The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission has recently provided the first all-sky maps of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) emitted from the edge of the heliosphere as well as the first observations of ENAs from the Moon and from the magnetosheath stagnation region at the nose of the magnetosphere. This study provides the first IBEX images of the ENA emissions from the nightside magnetosphere and plasma sheet. We show images from two IBEX orbits: One that displays typical plasma sheet emissions, which correlate reasonably well with a model magnetic field, and a second that shows a significant intensification that may indicate a near-Earth (∼10 R_E behind the Earth) disconnection event. IBEX observations from ∼0.5-6 keV indicate the simultaneous addition of both a hot (several keV) and colder (∼700 eV) component during the intensification; if IBEX directly observed magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail, the hot component may signify the plasma energization.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	A02211
Journal	Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume	116
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JA016138
State	Published - 2011
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Geophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1029/2010JA016138

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McComas, D. J., Dayeh, M. A., Funsten, H. O., Fuselier, S. A., Goldstein, J., Jahn, J. M., Janzen, P., Mitchell, D. G., Petrinec, S. M., Reisenfeld, D. B., & Schwadron, N. A. (2011). First IBEX observations of the terrestrial plasma sheet and a possible disconnection event. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 116(2), Article A02211. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JA016138

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title = "First IBEX observations of the terrestrial plasma sheet and a possible disconnection event",

abstract = "The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission has recently provided the first all-sky maps of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) emitted from the edge of the heliosphere as well as the first observations of ENAs from the Moon and from the magnetosheath stagnation region at the nose of the magnetosphere. This study provides the first IBEX images of the ENA emissions from the nightside magnetosphere and plasma sheet. We show images from two IBEX orbits: One that displays typical plasma sheet emissions, which correlate reasonably well with a model magnetic field, and a second that shows a significant intensification that may indicate a near-Earth (∼10 RE behind the Earth) disconnection event. IBEX observations from ∼0.5-6 keV indicate the simultaneous addition of both a hot (several keV) and colder (∼700 eV) component during the intensification; if IBEX directly observed magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail, the hot component may signify the plasma energization.",

author = "McComas, {D. J.} and Dayeh, {M. A.} and Funsten, {H. O.} and Fuselier, {S. A.} and J. Goldstein and Jahn, {J. M.} and P. Janzen and Mitchell, {D. G.} and Petrinec, {S. M.} and Reisenfeld, {D. B.} and Schwadron, {N. A.}",

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AU - McComas, D. J.

AU - Dayeh, M. A.

AU - Funsten, H. O.

AU - Fuselier, S. A.

AU - Goldstein, J.

AU - Jahn, J. M.

AU - Janzen, P.

AU - Mitchell, D. G.

AU - Petrinec, S. M.

AU - Reisenfeld, D. B.

AU - Schwadron, N. A.

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission has recently provided the first all-sky maps of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) emitted from the edge of the heliosphere as well as the first observations of ENAs from the Moon and from the magnetosheath stagnation region at the nose of the magnetosphere. This study provides the first IBEX images of the ENA emissions from the nightside magnetosphere and plasma sheet. We show images from two IBEX orbits: One that displays typical plasma sheet emissions, which correlate reasonably well with a model magnetic field, and a second that shows a significant intensification that may indicate a near-Earth (∼10 RE behind the Earth) disconnection event. IBEX observations from ∼0.5-6 keV indicate the simultaneous addition of both a hot (several keV) and colder (∼700 eV) component during the intensification; if IBEX directly observed magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail, the hot component may signify the plasma energization.

AB - The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission has recently provided the first all-sky maps of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) emitted from the edge of the heliosphere as well as the first observations of ENAs from the Moon and from the magnetosheath stagnation region at the nose of the magnetosphere. This study provides the first IBEX images of the ENA emissions from the nightside magnetosphere and plasma sheet. We show images from two IBEX orbits: One that displays typical plasma sheet emissions, which correlate reasonably well with a model magnetic field, and a second that shows a significant intensification that may indicate a near-Earth (∼10 RE behind the Earth) disconnection event. IBEX observations from ∼0.5-6 keV indicate the simultaneous addition of both a hot (several keV) and colder (∼700 eV) component during the intensification; if IBEX directly observed magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail, the hot component may signify the plasma energization.

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First IBEX observations of the terrestrial plasma sheet and a possible disconnection event

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