摘要
An ion flux dropout near the dipolarization front(DF) at around XGSM=-11 REin the Earth's plasma sheet was observed by Time History of Events and Macroscale Interaction during substorms(THEMIS) on March31, 2009. The ion differential energy fluxes at energies from 450 e V to 150 ke V measured by the ESA and SST instruments from THC began to decrease about 2 s before the detection of the DF and reached a local minimum 6 s later. Then, the ion fluxes gradually increased to form a dropout around the DF. The spatial extent of the dropout was about 4,000 km. For energies above 20 ke V, the ion fluxes after the dropout are greater than those before it,contrary to the fluxes at energies below 20 ke V. The associated ion density variation indicates that the ion flux dropout coincides with the ion density dropout. Taking advantage of multipoint observations, THD, THC, and THE detected the same DF consecutively. Only THC detected an obvious ion flux dropout; THD observed an indistinct one about 2 s before THC; no high-energy(E [ 30 ke V) ion flux dropout was observed by THE. Our study suggests that the ion flux dropout may evolve withthe earthward-propagating DF, and its properties can depend on locations relative to the DF.
An ion flux dropout near the dipolarization front （DF） at around XGSM =- 11 RE in the Earth＇ s plasma sheet was observed by Time History of Events and Macroscale Interaction during substorms （THEMIS） on March 31, 2009. The ion differential energy fluxes at energies from 450 eV to 150 keV measured by the ESA and SST instruments from THC began to decrease about 2 s before the detection of the DF and reached a local minimum 6 s later. Then, the ion fluxes gradually increased to form a dropout around the DF. The spatial extent of the dropout was about 4,000 km. For energies above 20 keV, the ion fluxes after the dropout are greater than those before it, contrary to the fluxes at energies below 20 keV. The associated ion density variation indicates that the ion flux dropout coincides with the ion density dropout. Taking advantage of multipoint observations, THD, THC, and THE detected the same DF consecutively. Only THC detected an obvious ion flux dropout; THD observed an indistinct one about 2 s before THC; no high-energy （E 〉 30 keV） ion flux dropout was observed by THE. Our study suggests that the ion flux dropout may evolve with the earthward-propagating DF, and its properties can depend on locations relative to the DF.
基金
supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(40774081)
Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2011CB811404)
the Specialized Research Fund for State Key Laboratories
