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Detailed Reference Information |
Asano, Y., Nakamura, R., Baumjohann, W., Runov, A., Vörös, Z., Volwerk, M., Zhang, T.L., Balogh, A., Klecker, B. and Rème, H. (2005). How typical are atypical current sheets?. Geophysical Research Letters 32: doi: 10.1029/2004GL021834. issn: 0094-8276. |
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Using multi-satellite Cluster magnetic field data, we statistically examined how often an atypical, i.e., non-Harris type, current sheet is formed. We found that a cross-tail current sheet with an off-equatorial current density maximum, indicating bifurcation, is frequently formed in thin current sheets with a half thickness of ~1500 km. The occurrence of off-equatorial current density maxima is correlated with the occurrence of fast plasma flows, namely if fast plasma flows occur nearby, one is more likely to observe off-equatorial current density maxima. We also found that many of the center-peaked current sheets exhibit a feature different from a normal Harris sheet: namely a very intense current concentrated near the equatorial plane, embedded in a broader current sheet with lower current density. |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Field-aligned currents and current systems, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetotail, Magnetospheric Physics, Plasma sheet |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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