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Earth's Magnetosphere

Formed by the Low-Latitude Boundary Layer

  • 1st Edition - August 13, 2011
  • Latest edition
  • Author: Walter Heikkila
  • Language: English

The author argues that, after five decades of debate about the interactive of solar wind with the magnetosphere, it is time to get back to basics. Starting with Newton's law, th… Read more

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Description

The author argues that, after five decades of debate about the interactive of solar wind with the magnetosphere, it is time to get back to basics. Starting with Newton's law, this book also examines Maxwell's equations and subsidiary equations such as continuity, constitutive relations and the Lorentz transformation; Helmholtz' theorem, and Poynting's theorem, among other methods for understanding this interaction.

Key features

  • Includes chapters on prompt particle acceleration to high energies, plasma transfer event, and the low latitude boundary layer
  • More than 200 figures illustrate the text
  • Includes a color insert

Readership

students and research workers in space physics

Table of contents

  • Dedication
  • Kiruna Meeting
  • Prologue
  • Acknowledgements
  • Chapter 1. Historical introduction
    • 1.1. Early history
    • 1.2. International Geophysical Year (IGY)
    • 1.3. International Magnetospheric Study
    • 1.4. Electric and magnetic fields in space
    • 1.5. Reference frames and frozen fields
    • 1.6. Coronal expansion
    • 1.7. Solar wind
    • 1.8. Magnetosheath
    • 1.9. Magnetopause
    • 1.10. Cause and effect at the magnetopause
    • 1.11. Low-Latitude Boundary Layer
    • 1.12. Discovery of the radiation belt
    • 1.13. The ionosphere
    • 1.14. High frequency wave propagation
    • 1.15. Polar cap during southward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF)
    • 1.16. The aurora and substorms
    • 1.17. Discussion
  • Chapter 2. Approximate methods
    • 2.1. Need for approximate methods
    • 2.2. Circuit analysis
    • 2.3. Basic magnetohydrodynamic equations
    • 2.4. Example of MHD for magnetospheric research
    • 2.5. Discussion
    • 2.6. Summary
  • Chapter 3. Helmholtz’s theorem
    • 3.1. Introduction
    • 3.2. Helmholtz’s theorem
    • 3.3. Maxwell’s equations
    • 3.4. Gauss’s law
    • 3.5. Gauge conditions
    • 3.6. Electrodynamics
    • 3.7. Sporadic magnetopause beams
    • 3.8. Particle simulation in 1-D
    • 3.9. Exceptional electron beam observation
    • 3.10. Other observations of energisation
    • 3.11. Discussion
    • 3.12. Summary
  • Chapter 4. Poynting’s energy conservation theorem
    • 4.1. Introduction
    • 4.2. The electric displacement: D field
    • 4.3. The magnetic field H
    • 4.4. Poynting’s theorem
    • 4.5. Discussion
    • 4.6. Plasma transfer event seen by Cluster
    • 4.7. Three systems
    • 4.8. Scientific paradigms
    • 4.9. Summary
  • Chapter 5. Magnetopause
    • 5.1. Introduction
    • 5.2. Solar wind – magnetopause interaction
    • 5.3. ISEE observations
    • 5.4. Profile of magnetopause electron temperature
    • 5.5. Impulsive penetration
    • 5.6. Flux transfer event
    • 5.7. Cluster observations of plasma transfer
    • 5.8. Plasma transfer event
    • 5.9. Skimming orbit of GEOTAIL
    • 5.10. Electric field at high sampling rates
    • 5.11. Discussion
    • 5.12. Summary
  • Chapter 6. High-altitude cusps
    • 6.1. Introduction
    • 6.2. The magnetosheath
    • 6.3. The cusp throat
    • 6.4. Transfer events
    • 6.5. Cusp energetic particles
    • 6.6. Exterior cusp
    • 6.7. Discussion
    • 6.8. Summary
  • Chapter 7. Low-latitude boundary layer
    • 7.1. Introduction
    • 7.2. Comprehensive investigation of low-latitude boundary layer
    • 7.3. Studies with better resolution
    • 7.4. Plasma transfer event
    • 7.5. Identification of cusp and cleft/low-latitude boundary layer
    • 7.6. Qualitative description of low-latitude boundary layer
    • 7.7. Topology of the magnetosphere
    • 7.8. ISEE observations
    • 7.9. Transient penetration
    • 7.10. Massive flow in the boundary layer
    • 7.11. Other observations of the low-latitude boundary layer
    • 7.12. Polar cap during southward interplanetary magnetic field
    • 7.13. Study with southward interplanetary magnetic field
    • 7.14. Polar cap during northward interplanetary magnetic field
    • 7.15. Penetration of interplanetary electric field into magnetosphere
    • 7.16. A study with northward interplanetary magnetic field
    • 7.17. Discussion
    • 7.18. Summary
  • Chapter 8. Driving the plasma sheet
    • 8.1. Introduction
    • 8.2. Transfer of plasma and electric field
    • 8.3. Plasma sheet from low altitude observations
    • 8.4. Plasma sheet observations
    • 8.5. Particle dynamics
    • 8.6. Auroral current circuit
    • 8.7. Key results from SuperDARN, CANOPUS
    • 8.8. Large scale flow dynamics
    • 8.9. Discussions
    • 8.10. Summary
  • Chapter 9. Magnetospheric substorms
    • 9.1. Introduction
    • 9.2. Statistical description of the substorm
    • 9.3. Two models as apparent alternatives
    • 9.4. Substorm disturbance onsets
    • 9.5. Substorm transfer event
    • 9.6. Ion dynamics
    • 9.7. Westward travelling surge
    • 9.8. Bursty bulk flows
    • 9.9. Observations of particle acceleration
    • 9.10. Acceleration of cold plasma
    • 9.11. Discussion
    • 9.12. Summary
  • Chapter 10. Epilogue
    • 10.1. Introduction
    • 10.2. Main arguments in this book
    • 10.3. Substorm transfer event
    • 10.4. Four fundamental processes reexamined
    • 10.5. Final summary
  • References
  • Color plates
  • Index

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: August 13, 2011
  • Language: English

About the author

WH

Walter Heikkila

Walter Heikkila is Professor Emeritus in the Physics Department at the University of Texas at Dallas. His research interests include space physics and solar physics, specifically magnetospheric physics, solar wind, and auroral substorms. He received his PhD in Low Temperature Physics from the University of Toronto. He has since worked for the Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment, before becoming Associate Professor of Physics at the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies and subsequently Professor of Physics at University of Texas at Dallas. He is the author of the first edition of Earth’s Magnetosphere and a leading expert on the Earth’s magnetic field.
Affiliations and expertise
University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA

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