Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Thin Current Sheets in the Magnetotail Observed by Cluster

  • Published:
Space Science Reviews Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The dynamics of the current sheet is one of the most essential elements in magnetotail physics. Particularly, thin current sheets, which we define here as those with a thickness of less than several ion inertia lengths, are known to play an important role in the energy conversion process in the magnetotail. With its capability of multi-point observation, Cluster succeeded to obtain the current density continuously and therefore identify structures of thin current sheets. We discuss characteristics of the thin current sheets by showing their temporal evolution and the spatial structures based on several Cluster observations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexeev, I. V., Owen, C. J., Fazakerley, A. N., Runov, A., Dewhurst, J. P., Balogh, A., Réme, H., Klecker, B., and Kistler, L.: 2005, Geophys. Res. Lett. 32, L03101, doi:10.1029/2004GL021420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asano, Y., Nakamura, R., Baumjohann, W., Runov, A., Vörös, Z., Volwerk, M., Zhang, T. L., Balogh, A., Klecker, B., and Rème, H.: 2005, Geophys. Res. Lett. 32, L03108, doi:10.1029/2004GL021834.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asano, Y., Nakamura, R., Runov, A., Baumjohann, W., McIlwain, C., Paschmann, G., Quinn, J., Alexeev, I., Dewhurst, J. P., Owen,C. J. et al.: 2006, Adv. Space Res. 37, 1382–1387, doi: 10.1016/jasr.2005.05.059.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kistler, L., Mouikis, C., Möbius, E., Klecker, B., Sauvaud, J. A., Rème, H., Korth, A., Marcucci, M. F., Lundin, R., Parks, G. K., and Balogh, A.: 2005, J. Geophys. Res. 110, A06213, doi:10.1029/2004JA010653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura, R., Baumjohann, W., Runov, A., Volwek, M., Zhang, T. L., Klecker, B., Bogdanova, Y., Roux, A., Balogh, A., Reme, H., Sauvand, J. A., and Frey, H. U.: 2002, Geophys. Res. Lett. 29, 2140, doi:10.1029/2002GL016200.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura, R., Baumjohann, W., Runov, A., Asano, Y., Balogh, A., Mouikis, C., Kistler, L. M., Klecker, B., and Rème, H.: 2004, Eos Trans. AGU 85(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract SM14A-04.

  • Runov, A., Nakamura, R., Baumjohann, W., Treumann, R. A., Zhang, T. L., Volwerk, M., Vörös, Z., Balogh, A., Glaβmeier, K.-H., Klecker, B., Rème, H., and Kistler, L.: 2003, Geophys. Res. Lett. 30(11), 1579, doi:10.1029/2002GL016730.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Runov, A., Sergeev, V. A., Nakamura, R., Baumjohann, W., Zhang, T. L., Asano, Y., Volwerk, M., Vörös, Z., Balogh, A., and Rème, H.: 2005a, Planet. Space Sci. 53, 237–243, doi: 10.1016/j.pss.2004.09.049.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Runov, A., Sergeev, V. A., Baumjohann, W., Nakamura, R., Apatenkov, S., Asano, Y., Volwerk, M., Vörös, Z., Zhang, T. L., Petrukovich, A., Balogh, A., Sauvaud, J.-A., Klecker, B., and Rème, H.: 2005b, Ann. Geophys. 23, 1391–1403.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sergeev, V., Runov, A., Baumjohann, W., Nakamura, R., Zhang, T. L., Volwerk, M., Balogh, A., Rème, H., Sauvaud, J. A., André, M., and Klecker, B.: 2003, Geophys. Res. Lett. 30(6), 1327, doi:10.1029/2002GL016500.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sergeev, V., Runov, A., Baumjohann, W., Nakamura, R., Zhang, T. L., Balogh, A., Louarn, P., Sauvaud, J. A., and Rème, H.: 2004, Geophys. Res. Lett. 31, L05807, doi:10.1029/2003GL019346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Y. Asano

    Present address: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria

    R. Nakamura, W. Baumjohann, A. Runov & Y. Asano

Authors
  1. R. Nakamura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. Baumjohann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Runov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Y. Asano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Nakamura.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nakamura, R., Baumjohann, W., Runov, A. et al. Thin Current Sheets in the Magnetotail Observed by Cluster. Space Sci Rev 122, 29–38 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-006-6219-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-006-6219-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation