Plasma and Fusion Research

Volume 6, 2401128 (2011)

Regular Articles

Response of the Magnetosphere to Microscopic Effects in Auroral Arc Formation
Hiroki HASEGAWA, Nobuaki OHNO1) and Tetsuya SATO1)
National Institute for Fusion Science, 322-6 Oroshi-cho, Toki 509-5292, Japan
1)
University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojimaminami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
(Received 21 December 2010 / Accepted 1 August 2011 / Published 26 August 2011)

Abstract

A process of quiet auroral arc formation, in particular, the response of the magnetosphere to the effect of auroral energetic electrons, is studied using a holistic auroral simulation code. It consists of a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic code for a dipole magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling system and a one-dimensional electrostatic plasma particle code for auroral energetic electron production. Results of the holistic auroral simulation indicate that drastic variation in the ionospheric electric field, which is induced by auroral energetic electrons and propagates into the magnetosphere, influences the magnetospheric field-aligned current distribution. Furthermore, the characteristic time scale of this process is investigated.

Keywords

aurora, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, feedback instability, electron acceleration, holistic simulation

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.6.2401128

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This paper may be cited as follows:

Hiroki HASEGAWA, Nobuaki OHNO and Tetsuya SATO, Plasma Fusion Res. 6, 2401128 (2011).