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.
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.
Cowling, T.G.: 1957, Magnetohydrodynamics. Interscience, New York, USA.
Ferrière, K.M., Zimmer, C. and Blanc, M.: 1999, Mhd waves and gravitational/centrifugal instability in rotating systems, J. Geophys. Res. 104, 17335.
Ferrière, K.M., Zimmer, C. and Blanc, M.: 2001, Quasi-interchange modes and interchange instability in rotating magnetospheres, J. Geophys. Res. 106, 327.
Gold, T.: 1959, Motions in the magnetosphere of the Earth, J. Geophys. Res. 64, 1219.
Hill, T.W.: 1979, Inertial limit on corotation, J. Geophys. Res. 84, 6554.
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.
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.
Newcomb, W.A.: 1958, Motion of magnetic lines of force, Ann. Phys. N.Y. 3, 347.
Newcomb, W.A.: 1961, Convective instability induced by gravity in a plasma with frozen-in magnetic field, Phys. Fluids 4, 391.
Parker, E.N.: 1966, The dynamical state of the interstellar gas and field, Astrophys. J. 145, 811.
Pontius, D.H. and Hill, T.W.: 1982, Departure from corotation of the Io plasma torus: local plasma production, Geophys. Res. Lett. 9, 1321.
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.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights 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
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012252923790