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Ann. Geophys., 22, 527-535, 2004
www.ann-geophys.net/22/527/2004/
© European Geosciences Union 2004
Evidence for energetic electron and iondispersive microinjections in theEarth's magnetotail as far as 27 RE
D. V. Sarafopoulos1, E. T. Sarris1, and V. Lutsenko2
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Demokritos University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
2Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
Abstract. High energy and time resolution measurements of energetic electron
and ion fluxes obtained by the DOK-2 experiment on board the Interball-tail
satellite provide us the opportunity to study the short-lived (1–3min),
localized, and often periodic and dispersive flux increases within the plasma
sheet. We have deliberately selected and studied two intervals corresponding
to the dawn and dusk magnetotail flanks. Dispersive electron (ion) bursts in
the dawn side (dusk side) are observed from L=7 to L=27. These bursts, having an
individual entity, are termed microinjections and are observed in radial distances
greater than those predicted by the ``injection boundary model." In this paper
we suggest that the dispersive fluxes at widely separated radial distances are
produced by multiple pulsating isospectrum surfaces ordered in succession. At
the inner edge of the plasma sheet, the isospectrum surface is considered by
Sarafopoulos (2002) as a meandering injection boundary. Roughly, we
estimate that the wavelength for an oscillating isospectrum surface is <∼7RE.
A newly-injected population can coexist with the population from another
injection center. These electron-ion drifts probably lead to the formation of
the profound dawn-dusk species dependent asymmetry of energetic particles
within the plasma sheet.
Key words. Magnetospheric physics (plasma sheet; energetic
particles, precipitating; MHD waves and instabilities)
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