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Hu & Sonnerup 2003
Hu, Q. and Sonnerup, B.U.Ö. (2003). Reconstruction of two-dimensional structures in the magnetopause: Method improvements. Journal of Geophysical Research 108: doi: 10.1029/2002JA009323. issn: 0148-0227.

A recently developed method for recovering two-dimensional (∂/∂z ≈ 0), time-stationary magnetic field structures in the magnetopause is improved and further applied to two complete magnetopause crossings by the spacecraft AMPTE/IRM. The technique consists of solving the Grad-Shafranov (GS) equation for magnetohydrostatic structures as a Cauchy problem, using measured data along a spacecraft trajectory through the structure as spatial initial values. We have implemented the following improvements: (1) allowing for different functional behavior of the transverse pressure, Pt = p + Bz2/2¿0, versus A, the calculated magnetic potential, on the magnetosphere and the magnetosheath side of the magnetopause; (2) allowing for change in the velocity of the magnetopause structures as they move past the spacecraft by using a time-varying deHoffmann-Teller (HT) frame velocity; (3) suppressing numerical instabilities and thus extending the integration domain by constraining the behavior of the total pressure. Results from two AMPTE/IRM events show layered and asymmetric structures on the two sides of the magnetopause owing to double-branched behavior in p(A) as well as Bz(A). A time-varying HT frame results in a curved spacecraft trajectory through the magnetopause. The reconstructed field structures show important changes in size but only slight changes in configuration. The use of a time-varying HT frame for determination of time-varying magnetopause motion is discussed.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetopause, cusp, and boundary layers, Magnetospheric Physics, Numerical modeling, Magnetospheric Physics, Instruments and techniques, Space Plasma Physics, Discontinuities
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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