Abstract This model explains why breakup has been observed as low as L = 5–6 and predicts that a higher concentration of O+ in the plasma sheet will permit breakup at such low L values. It is argued that the establishment of a coupled current structure within a single arc leads to a quasi-stable system i.e. the pre-breakup regime. Perturbation of the pre-breakup structure leads to an instability criterion. Certain quiescent configurations are inherently unstable. Thus transitions from a stable to an unstable situation can trigger a rapid poleward expansion of the quiescent arc or substorm breakup. In our model the kinetic energy of injected plasma from the magnetotail supplies the energy for breakup.
Substorm breakup on closed field lines
Advances in Space Research ; 8 , 9-10 ; 347-350
1989-01-01
4 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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