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Detailed Reference Information |
Delcourt, D.C., Malova, H.V. and Zelenyi, L.M. (2006). Quasi-adiabaticity in bifurcated current sheets. Geophysical Research Letters 33: doi: 10.1029/2005GL025463. issn: 0094-8276. |
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We examine the non-linear dynamics of charged particles in "bifurcated" (double-humped) current sheets. We show that, when the adiabaticity parameter $kappa$ is of the order unity, particles experience a negligible change of magnetic moment. Such a behavior contrasts with the prominent magnetic moment scattering that is achieved in single-humped current sheets at such $kappa$ values. It resembles the quasi-adiabatic (Speiser-type) behaviors that is obtained at $kappa$ $ll$ 1 as a result of resonance between the fast oscillation about the midplane and the slow gyromotion near this plane. We demonstrate that beams of $kappa$ ≈ 1 particles may form downstream of bifurcated current sheets, which propagate along the magnetic field lines up to high latitudes. Quasi-adiabaticity and associated beam formation thus occur at significantly larger $kappa$ values in double-humped current sheets than in single-humped ones, or equivalently for lower particle energy and/or weaker field reversal. |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Plasma sheet, Space Plasma Physics, Charged particle motion and acceleration, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetotail boundary layers, Magnetospheric Physics, Numerical modeling |
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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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