Properties of Plasmoids Observed in Saturn's Dayside and Nightside Magnetodisc

Xu, Y.1; Guo, R. L.2,3; Yao, Z. H.1,4; Pan, D. X.1; Dunn, W. R.5; Ye, S-Y6; Zhang, B.7; Sun, Y. X.8; Wei, Y.1; Coates, A. J.5

2021-12-28

10.1029/2021GL096765

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS   影响因子和分区

0094-8276

1944-8007

Plasmoid is a key structure for transferring magnetic flux and plasma in planetary magnetospheres. At Earth, plasmoids are key media which transfer energy and mass in the "Dungey Cycle." For giant planets, plasmoids are primarily generated by the dynamic processes associated with "Vasyliunas cycle." It is generally believed that planetary magnetotails are favorable for producing plasmoids. Nevertheless, recent studies reveal that magnetic field lines could be sufficiently stretched to allow magnetic reconnection in Saturn's dayside magnetodisc. In the study, we report direct observations of plasmoids in Saturn's dayside magnetodisc for the first time. Moreover, we perform a statistical investigation on the global plasmoid electron density distribution. The results show an inverse correlation between the nightside plasmoid electron density and local time, and the maximum plasmoid electron density around prenoon local time on the dayside. These results are consistent with the magnetospheric circulation picture associated with the "Vasyliunas cycle."

magnetosphere flux rope plasma

SCI ; EI

英语

其他

Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences[XDB 41000000] ; National Science Foundation of China[42074211] ; Key Research Program of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics CAS[IGGCAS-201904] ; UCL-MSSL solar system consolidated Grant from STFC, UK[ST/S000240/1] ; General Research Fund[17300719,17308520] ; Excellent Young Scientists Fund Hong Kong and Macau of the National Natural Science Foundation of China[41922060]

Geology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

WOS:000735897000069

AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION

20215211396353

Carrier concentration ; Electron density measurement ; Electrons ; Magnetism ; Magnetoplasma ; Magnetosphere

Atmospheric Properties:443.1 ; Extraterrestrial Physics and Stellar Phenomena:657.2 ; Electricity: Basic Concepts and Phenomena:701.1 ; Magnetism: Basic Concepts and Phenomena:701.2 ; Plasma Physics:932.3

GEOSCIENCES

Web of Science

1.Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Geol & Geophys, Key Lab Earth & Planetary Phys, Beijing, Peoples R China
2.Univ Liege, STAR Inst, Lab Planetary & Atmospher Phys, Liege, Belgium
3.Shandong Univ, Lab Opt Astron & Solar Terr Environm, Inst Space Sci, Sch Space Sci & Phys, Weihai, Shandong, Peoples R China
4.Univ Chinese Acad Sci, Coll Earth & Planetary Sci, Beijing, Peoples R China
5.UCL Mullard Space Sci Lab, Dorking, Surrey, England
6.Southern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Dept Earth & Space Sci, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
7.Univ Hong Kong, Dept Earth Sci, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
8.Peking Univ, Sch Earth & Space Sci, Inst Space Phys & Appl Technol, Beijing, Peoples R China

Xu, Y.,Guo, R. L.,Yao, Z. H.,et al. Properties of Plasmoids Observed in Saturn's Dayside and Nightside Magnetodisc[J]. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS,2021,48(24).

Xu, Y..,Guo, R. L..,Yao, Z. H..,Pan, D. X..,Dunn, W. R..,...&Coates, A. J..(2021).Properties of Plasmoids Observed in Saturn's Dayside and Nightside Magnetodisc.GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS,48(24).

Xu, Y.,et al."Properties of Plasmoids Observed in Saturn's Dayside and Nightside Magnetodisc".GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS 48.24(2021).