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Ann. Geophys., 26, 1597-1604, 2008
www.ann-geophys.net/26/1597/2008/
© European Geosciences Union 2008
Cross-tail velocity component in the plasma sheet fast flows
N. P. Dmitrieva
Institute of Physics, University of St-Petersburg, St-Petersburg, Russia
Abstract. The flux transfer in the magnetotail plasma sheet is mainly provided by the
tail-aligned fast plasma flows (Bursty Bulk Flows – BBFs). In this paper we study the events with a large
cross-tail velocity component, including their occurrence and relationship
to the standard BBFs. We found out that a significant part of large Vy events
are a subgroup connected with the BBFs propagation. The maximal deviation of
the velocity vector from the X direction (about 40–50 degrees, on average) is
observed near the BBFs' leading front in the sheath, where the fast flow
interacts with surrounding plasma. The average variation of the velocity
direction in the vicinity of the BBF resembles a plasma vortex. Our results
support the model, in which the BBF represents a polarized, bubble-like flux
tube, propagating through the plasma sheet.
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