Auroral arcs as manifestations of magnetic fractures.
Abstract
Properties of structured auroral arcs are derived from a model according to which magnetic energy is dominantly converted into kinetic energy of field-aligned particle beams. After a summary of the main features of the fracture model, the author addresses the relative and absolute transverse scale lengths implied by this model. Then he looks into the impact of the interaction between emitted Alfvén waves and current generator on the structure of auroral arcs. He checks the appropriateness of the used macroscopic description vis-à-vis kinetic effects and presents an attempt to reconcile the current instability/Alfvén wave picture with the mirror resistivity concept.
- Publication:
-
Auroral arcs as manifestations of magnetic fractures
- Pub Date:
- June 1988
- Bibcode:
- 1988aaam.book.....H