1. Magnetotail characteristic magnetic field in magnetotail: 20~50nT at ~20 RE [Fairfield 1979] Typical ion and electron temperature ranges are 5x10^6 to 5x10^7K and 2x10^6 to 2x10^7K respectively, As within the magnetosheath ion temperatures are greater than electron temperatures by factors of ~ 3 to 5. The reason for this nonequilibration of ion and electron temperatures in the plasma sheet is believed to be associated with the primary magnetotail acceleration mechanism and remains unresolved at this time. Plasma densities within the plasma sheet are ~ 0.1 to 1 cm -3. Ion bulk speeds within the plasma sheet, including its boundary layers that are characterized by high-speed ion streams, vary greatly within the range of 10 to 1000 km/sec (Frank and Ackerson, 1979). The ion and electron drift speeds are in the ranges of ~ i00 to 200 km/sec and ~ 500 to 800 km/sec, respectively.

Fan Guo Posted at 2007-05-09 15:43 CST Last modified at 2007-05-09 15:56 CST Link to this poster Source Code Top