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Self-consistent evolution of auroral downward-current region ion outflow and moving double layer
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Plasmas, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Center for Integrated Plasma Studies, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Plasmas, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Vlasov simulations have been performed to investigate the development and evolution of the parallel potential drop, often structured as a localized double layer (DL), electron phase-space holes, and ion perpendicular heating, resulting in ion outflow in the auroral downward-current region. We focus on the feedback between a moving DL and heated ions, suggesting a self-consistent model: the heated ions regulate the evolution of the DL which controls the level of ion heating and, consequently, the outflow rate. Strongly heated ions forming conics are found in agreement with in-situ observations. The intensification and widening of the DL develops with time, and the DL eventually weakens due to a reduction in the background population resulting from excessive ion heating.
Received 15 August 2009; accepted 7 October 2009; published 7 November 2009.
Citation: (2009), Self-consistent evolution of auroral downward-current region ion outflow and moving double layer, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L21104, doi:10.1029/2009GL040585.
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