[IGPP Everyone] Friday, Nov.16, 2018 - SEMINAR SERIES FALL 2018 - 3:30 pm - Room 6704 Geology

[Marjorie Sowmendran]

SPACE PHYSICS SEMINAR

DEPARTMENT OF EARTH, PLANETARY, AND SPACE SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

  

STATISTICAL STUDY ON FLUX TRANSFER EVENTS AND FLUX ROPES OBSERVED BY MMS SPACECRAFT



CONG ZHAO, UCLA



Abstract



Observationally, flux transfer events (FTEs) are characterized by an enhancement of the magnetic field strength, a bipolar magnetic field in the direction transverse to the direction of motion of the structure, a dominant field-aligned current throughout the structure and the mixture of plasma from both magnetosphere and magnetosheath. FTEs are important for the space environment since they provide a means for the solar wind plasma, momentum and energy to be transferred into the terrestrial magnetosphere. In phase 1a of the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) we found 47 flux transfer events. However, during the same period, we also found another 52 flux ropes (non-FTE FRs) which share the same magnetic topology as FTEs but have no signature of plasma from the magnetosphere and magnetosheath.  With the help of the tetrahedron of the MMS spacecraft, it is possible to accurately calculate the cross-sectional radius, the total flux content as well as the speed of the FTEs and non-FTE FRs.  In this paper, we compare the properties of the FTE and the non-FTE FRs.  In addition, the solar wind conditions associated with these events are also compared in order to test whether the FTEs and non-FTE FRs are related to the southward IMF conditions, and hence magnetic reconnection. That those statistical properties of FTEs and non-FTE FRs are very similar indicates that FTEs and non-FTE FRs may be different parts with non-FTE FRs being the exterior and FTEs being the core of the same phenomenon.  Or they may be different evolution stages of the same phenomena.  However, since the radii and impact parameter is similar for both type of events, the hypothesis that they may be different part of the same phenomena may be wrong.

                                                                                                                                                    



Friday, November 16, 2018

Room 6704 Geology

3:30 - 5:00 PM



In Charge

M. Velli 



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