Energy Conversion in the Dip Region Preceding Dipolarization Front

Abstract Dipolarization fronts (DFs), characterized by sharp increases in the northward magnetic field and usually preceded by magnetic dips, are suggested to play an important role in energy conversion and transport in the magnetotail. It has been documented that strong energy conversion typically...

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Main Authors: B. N. Zhao, C. M. Liu, J. B. Cao, Y. Y. Liu, X. N. Xing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-07-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109860
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author B. N. Zhao
C. M. Liu
J. B. Cao
Y. Y. Liu
X. N. Xing
author_facet B. N. Zhao
C. M. Liu
J. B. Cao
Y. Y. Liu
X. N. Xing
author_sort B. N. Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Dipolarization fronts (DFs), characterized by sharp increases in the northward magnetic field and usually preceded by magnetic dips, are suggested to play an important role in energy conversion and transport in the magnetotail. It has been documented that strong energy conversion typically develops right at the fronts. Here we present spacecraft observations of electron‐scale energy conversion (EEC) developed inside the dip region ahead of a DF, by using high‐cadence data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission. The EEC, with magnitude comparable to that at the front, is primarily driven by ion current and electron‐scale electric field. The electric field inside the dip is provided by electrostatic waves fed by lower hybrid drift instability, which experiences temporal decaying. Such decaying leads to nonhomogeneity of EEC along the dawn‐dusk direction. These results, uncovering a new channel for DF‐driven energy conversion, can provide important insights into understanding energy transport in the magnetotail.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 0094-8276
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language English
publishDate 2024-07-01
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record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-66a38bf832f4410d847c045bbfc2df0c2025-08-20T02:04:21ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-07-015113n/an/a10.1029/2024GL109860Energy Conversion in the Dip Region Preceding Dipolarization FrontB. N. Zhao0C. M. Liu1J. B. Cao2Y. Y. Liu3X. N. Xing4School of Space and Environment Beihang University Beijing ChinaSchool of Space and Environment Beihang University Beijing ChinaSchool of Space and Environment Beihang University Beijing ChinaSchool of Space and Environment Beihang University Beijing ChinaSchool of Space and Environment Beihang University Beijing ChinaAbstract Dipolarization fronts (DFs), characterized by sharp increases in the northward magnetic field and usually preceded by magnetic dips, are suggested to play an important role in energy conversion and transport in the magnetotail. It has been documented that strong energy conversion typically develops right at the fronts. Here we present spacecraft observations of electron‐scale energy conversion (EEC) developed inside the dip region ahead of a DF, by using high‐cadence data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission. The EEC, with magnitude comparable to that at the front, is primarily driven by ion current and electron‐scale electric field. The electric field inside the dip is provided by electrostatic waves fed by lower hybrid drift instability, which experiences temporal decaying. Such decaying leads to nonhomogeneity of EEC along the dawn‐dusk direction. These results, uncovering a new channel for DF‐driven energy conversion, can provide important insights into understanding energy transport in the magnetotail.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109860dipolarization frontdip regionenergy conversion
spellingShingle B. N. Zhao
C. M. Liu
J. B. Cao
Y. Y. Liu
X. N. Xing
Energy Conversion in the Dip Region Preceding Dipolarization Front
Geophysical Research Letters
dipolarization front
dip region
energy conversion
title Energy Conversion in the Dip Region Preceding Dipolarization Front
title_full Energy Conversion in the Dip Region Preceding Dipolarization Front
title_fullStr Energy Conversion in the Dip Region Preceding Dipolarization Front
title_full_unstemmed Energy Conversion in the Dip Region Preceding Dipolarization Front
title_short Energy Conversion in the Dip Region Preceding Dipolarization Front
title_sort energy conversion in the dip region preceding dipolarization front
topic dipolarization front
dip region
energy conversion
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109860
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AT cmliu energyconversioninthedipregionprecedingdipolarizationfront
AT jbcao energyconversioninthedipregionprecedingdipolarizationfront
AT yyliu energyconversioninthedipregionprecedingdipolarizationfront
AT xnxing energyconversioninthedipregionprecedingdipolarizationfront