Skip to main content
Log in

Basics of Rotating Magnetospheres: Equilibrium and Stability

  • Published:
Astrophysics and Space Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present the basic characteristics of a rotating magnetosphere. More specifically, we describe its overall equilibrium state, explain the ‘subcorotation’ phenomenon resulting from plasma production or from outward transport, discuss the conditions under which a magnetospheric system is driven unstable, and comment on the nature of the unstable motions, with emphasis on the interchange motions believed to be responsible for the outward plasma transport.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bernstein, I.B., Frieman, E.A., Kruskal, M.D. and Kulsrud, R.M.: 1958, An energy principle for hydromagnetic stability problems, Proc. R. Soc. London 244, 17.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cowling, T.G.: 1957, Magnetohydrodynamics. Interscience, New York, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrière, K.M., Zimmer, C. and Blanc, M.: 1999, Mhd waves and gravitational/centrifugal instability in rotating systems, J. Geophys. Res. 104, 17335.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrière, K.M., Zimmer, C. and Blanc, M.: 2001, Quasi-interchange modes and interchange instability in rotating magnetospheres, J. Geophys. Res. 106, 327.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gold, T.: 1959, Motions in the magnetosphere of the Earth, J. Geophys. Res. 64, 1219.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, T.W.: 1979, Inertial limit on corotation, J. Geophys. Res. 84, 6554.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, T.W. and Michel, F.C.: 1976, Heavy ions from the Galilean satellites and the centrifugal distortion of the Jovian magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res. 81, 4561.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • McNutt, R.L., Jr., Coppi, P.S., Selesnick, R.S. and Coppi, B.: 1987, Plasma depletions in the Jovian magnetosphere: Evidence of transport and solar wind interaction, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 4377.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Newcomb, W.A.: 1958, Motion of magnetic lines of force, Ann. Phys. N.Y. 3, 347.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Newcomb, W.A.: 1961, Convective instability induced by gravity in a plasma with frozen-in magnetic field, Phys. Fluids 4, 391.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, E.N.: 1966, The dynamical state of the interstellar gas and field, Astrophys. J. 145, 811.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Pontius, D.H. and Hill, T.W.: 1982, Departure from corotation of the Io plasma torus: local plasma production, Geophys. Res. Lett. 9, 1321.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Roux, A.: 1985, Generation of field-aligned current structures at substorm onsets, Proceedings of ESA Workshop on Future Missions in Solar, Heliospheric and Space Plasma Physics, ESA Spec. Publ. 235, 151.

  • Southwood, D.J. and Kivelson, M.G.: 1987, Magnetospheric interchange instability, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 109.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ferrière, K.M. Basics of Rotating Magnetospheres: Equilibrium and Stability. Astrophysics and Space Science 277, 247–257 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012252923790

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012252923790

Keywords

Navigation