Plasmas in the Earth's Magnetotail

Abstract

An overview of the general characteristics of plasmas within the Earths magnetotail and its environs is presented. Present knowledge of the plasmas within these regions as gained via in situ measurements provides the general theme, although observations of magnetic fields, energetic particles and plasma waves are included in the discussion. Primary plasma regimes in the magnetotail are the plasma sheet, its boundary layer, the magnetotail lobes, the boundary layer at the magnetopause and the distant magnetotail. Although the great progress in our understanding of these regions is evident in the literature of the past several years, many of their features remain as exciting enigmas to be resolved by future observational and theoretical investigation.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA157320

Entities

People

  • Louis A. Frank

Organizations

  • University of Iowa

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • Charged Particles
  • Current Density
  • Electric Fields
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • High Latitudes
  • Layers
  • Low Altitude
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement
  • Particles
  • Plasma Waves
  • Polar Cap
  • Simulations
  • Solar Wind
  • Spacecraft Charging

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design