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Outflowing Transients near the Heliospheric Current Sheet: Multi-spacecraft Observations

This study investigates the signatures of outflowing transients adjacent to the Heliospheric Current Sheet using multi-spacecraft observations. It explores the structured nature and potential distortions of the Current Sheet and identifies the in-situ signatures of these transients.

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Outflowing Transients near the Heliospheric Current Sheet: Multi-spacecraft Observations

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  1. centre for fusion, space and astrophysics Signatures of Outflowing Transients Adjacent to the Heliospheric Current Sheet Multi-spacecraft Observations CCMC Claire Foullon (1,2) • In collaboration with: B.Lavraud(3), C.J.Owen(2), A.N. Fazakerley(2), R.M.Skoug(4) (1) Univ. Warwick, UK, (2) MSSL/UCL, UK, (3) CESR/CNRS, France, (4) LANL, NM USA With thanks to: PIs from STEREO, ACE, Wind and Cluster

  2. Introduction The HCS passage near Earth is a relatively well predicted recurring phenomenon, but… Two properties: 1) Structured HCS 2) Main orientation can be highly distorted [e.g. Villante et al., 1979] Main new results (with STEREO & multi-s/c): (1) Substructures caused by outflowing transients (2) Distortions likely related to those transients What are the in-situ signatures of those transients?

  3. Spacecraft Crooker et al. (2004a): interchange reconnection creates field inversions [Smith, 2001] Spacecraft Parcel Release by Interchange Reconnection [adapted from Wang et al. 1998,modified by Crooker et al. 2004a] Motivations • Multiple current sheet crossings in the solar wind • High-beta plasma sheets • Passage of the HCS HCS [Jokipii and Thomas, 1981] • Multiple crossings near the HCS: • Waves? • Multiple current sheets?

  4. Away Sector Toward Sector Away Sector Introduction Multi-spacecraft studies of HCS substructures in the solar wind Two complementary sector crossings during the recent solar minimum Multi-spacecraft study of substructures in the solar wind Away Sector Toward Sector March 04, 2007 HCS: good spatial and cross-scale coverage, spanning 550 RE across and 900 RE along the Sun-Earth line: ST-A,-B, ACE, 4 Cluster. June 27, 2005 HCS: 2 s/c near L1, 96 RE across the Sun-Earth line: Wind and ACE (+ 3 s/c in the nightside magnetosheath).

  5. Rotational Axis Magnetic Dipole Axis Earth Toward (Northern) Sector Away (Southern) Sector Introduction Multi-spacecraft studies of HCS substructures in the solar wind Two complementary sector crossings during the recent solar minimum N S In this period near solar minimum, the toward sector (sunward IMF) is connected to the northern solar magnetic hemisphere, and the away sector (anti-sunward IMF) to the southern hemisphere. EIT 284 A 2005/06/25 13:06 VSL Solar and Heliospheric Weather model HCS

  6. Rotational Axis Magnetic Dipole Axis Earth Toward (Northern) Sector Away (Southern) Sector To correctly identify the HCS crossing(s), we use suprathermal electrons as sensors of magnetic topology. Introduction Multi-spacecraft study of substructures in the solar wind Attempt to resolve spatial scales and temporal variations

  7. March 04, 2007 HCS Part I Away Sector Toward Sector Foullon et al. 2009, Solar Physics 259 (1), p. 389

  8. HCS D2 D1 HCS D2 D1 Overview: Sector Boundary Layer ST-A The leading edge of the sector boundary appears layered. Mismatch between HCS and True Sector Boundary (TSB) Bx By Bz Two to four major magnetic field reversals are detected before the HCS, depending on the observing spacecraft. Bx By Bz ACE Heat Flux Dropout (HFD) at HCS [similar to event reported by Gosling et al., 2005] Bx By Bz

  9. Accelerated plasma within the field reversal regions: interpreted as Alfvénic fluctuations (B, V-components). Overview: Sector Boundary Layer The leading edge of the sector boundary appears layered. Cluster Injections due to field-line connections to the bow shock Bx By Bz Two to four major magnetic field reversals are detected before the HCS, depending on the observing spacecraft. ST-B Bx By Bz Ion foreshock (solar wind slowed down)

  10. Analysis: A Layered Planar Structure Orientation estimates of all current sheets using various analysis methods MVA, MVABN , Cross-product Away Sector Toward Sector SBL: planar structure

  11. Occasional deviations from the planar structure on the broad scale Analysis: A Layered Planar Structure Orientation estimates of all current sheets using various analysis methods MVA, MVABN, Cross-product and 4-s/c discontinuity analysis (Cluster) • a multi-layered current sheet structure, quasi-parallel to the HCS, • embedded and curving together along the planar magnetic structure of the sector boundary. Away Sector Toward Sector SBL: planar structure

  12. HCS TSB By Bz Bx Discussion: Transient Outflowing Loops ST-A Toward Away HCS Suprathermal electrons - Simplified geometry: SBL cross-section - Connection to the Sun as default

  13. HCS TSB By Bz Bx ST-A TSB Toward Away HCS Discussion: Transient Outflowing Loops Pattern of Interchange Reconnection (IR) [Crooker et al, 2004b] Suprathermal electrons - Simplified geometry: SBL cross-section - Connection to the Sun as default

  14. Scattering Discussion: Transient Outflowing Loops ST-A Pattern of Interchange Reconnection (IR) [Crooker et al, 2004b] Toward Away TSB HCS ACE HFD can arise from IR and scattering [Owens & Crooker, 2007] Suprathermal electrons Toward Away HCS HFD

  15. Suprathermal electrons Scattering Discussion: Transient Outflowing Loops ST-A |B| Bx Vx By Vy Bz Vz Toward Away TSB HCS ACE |B| Bx Vx By Vy Bz Vz Toward Away HCS HFD

  16. D2 D1 Suprathermal electrons Scattering D2 D1 D0b D0a Discussion: Transient Outflowing Loops ST-A Toward Away TSB HCS ACE Toward Away HCS HFD

  17. Suprathermal electrons Scattering Discussion: Transient Outflowing Loops ST-A Another pattern of IR [Crooker et al, 2004b]. Toward Away -Dominant 0˚ PA on both legs -Stronger Vz -D1/D2 distance decrease: thinning TSB HCS D2 D1 ACE Toward Asymmetric counterstreaming on open field line Away HCS D2 D1 D0b D0a HFD

  18. ST-A Toward Away TSB HCS D2 D1 ACE Suprathermal electrons Toward Scattering Away HCS D2 D1 D0b D0a HFD Discussion: Transient Outflowing Loops Transient development of the small loop, which has not reached ST-A.

  19. Part I Summary Thanks to the HCS, we can (1) relate in-situ multi-spacecraft observations (2) demonstrate the link between the apparent layered structure of the sector boundary and slow solar wind transients. • Overall a steadymulti-layered structure; • Evolution between stages of transient outflowing loops formed by interchange reconnection; • Circumstantial evidence that a HFD can arise from interchange reconnection and scattering; • Inter-spacecraft comparison of shear flows/Alfvénic fluctuations & asymmetric electron counterstreaming; • Fine substructures: occasional non-planar structures on the Cluster spatial scale suggest a bunch of loops with variable properties. Foullon et al. 2009, Solar Physics 259 (1), p. 389

  20. June 27, 2005 HCS Part II Away Sector Toward Sector Away Sector Foullon et al. 2010, AIP Proc. Solar Wind 12, 1216, p. 367

  21. No substantial acceleration within the field reversal regions Overview: Sector Crossing Away Sector Toward Sector The sector boundary (lower B) appears layered. Wind Before crossing: Northward IMF Three to four major magnetic field reversals are detected, depending on the observing spacecraft. ACE Before crossing: Southward IMF, turning Northward after A’ (same sign change at Geotail)

  22. Overview: Sector Crossing Away Sector Toward Sector The sector crossing occurs within a HFD Wind No clear detection of the TSB CS predominant downstream of A ACE Apparent CS due to depletions of plasma at 90° PA [Gosling et al, 2001], possibly over unequal halo populations [Crooker and Pagel, 2008] A’-B’: Residual beam at PA 0 suggests TSB located at or downstream of A’.

  23. Overview: Sector Crossing Away Sector Toward Sector The sector crossing occurs within a HFD No clear detection of the TSB ACE Away Toward A’-B’: Residual beam at PA 0 suggests TSB located at or downstream of A’. D’ C’ B’ A’=HCS Suprathermal electrons - Simplified geometry: SBL cross-section - Connection to the Sun as default

  24. Southward directed HCS normal (pointing downstream) indicates a toward sector below an away sector, in apparent contradiction with the global heliospheric magnetic configuration. • Alignment across the S-E line: • A-A’ good: steady structure identified as the main HCS; • Following discontinuities not so good: evolution from West to East(Bz similar at ACE and Geotail), • with ACE transients possibly following the track of Wind transients along the sector boundary. Analysis: Evolution across the Sun-Earth line Orientation estimates of all current sheets using single s/c methods MVA (Cross-product) SBL: evolution across the Sun-Earth line, i.e. No planar structure can be assumed

  25. Analysis: Evolution across the Sun-Earth line Orientation estimates of all current sheets using single s/c methods The HCS is highly inclined at the Sun, making an angle of ~90° with the HCS near 1 AU, in the plane across the Sun-Earth line. MVA (Cross-product) N W S EIT 284 A 2005/06/25 13:06 VSL Solar and Heliospheric Weather model HCS Indicative of distortion effect in the solar wind.

  26. Summary Two complementary sector crossings during the recent solar minimum • Apparent simplicity of the structures (relatively small number and scale-sizes) facilitate the multi-s/c analysis; • Association between transientsand large angular changes (usually attributed to spaghetti-like flux tubes, but their evolution may not be so easily deduced); • No planar structure can be assumed in one case on the scale of the magnetospheric cross-section. [Borovsky, 2008] without dynamics both having an Away sector (with transients) above Toward sector. • Linked to HCS southward displacement via outflowing loops? • Flow accelerations & extent of HFD may reflect the number and age of the transients channeled along the sector boundary. Toward (Northern) Sector Earth Foullon et al. 2009, Solar Physics 259 (1), p. 389 Away (Southern) Sector Foullon et al. 2010, AIP Proc. Solar Wind 12, 1216, p. 367

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