Spacecraft Magnetic Field Research Articles

CRRES/Ground-based multi-instrument observations of an interval of substorm activity

Abstract. Observations are presented of data taken during a 3-h interval in which five clear substorm onsets/intensifications took place. During this interval ground-based data from the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar, a digital CCD all sky camera, and an extensive array of magnetometers were recorded. In addition data from the CRRES and DMSP spacecraft, whose footprints passed over Scandinavia very close to most of the ground-based instrumentation, are available. The locations and movements of the substorm current system in latitude and longitude, determined from ground and spacecraft magnetic field data, have been correlated with the locations and propagation of increased particle precipitation in the E-region at EISCAT, increased particle fluxes measured by CRRES and DMSP, with auroral luminosity and with ionospheric convection velocities. The onsets and propagation of the injection of magnetospheric particle populations and auroral luminosity have been compared. CRRES was within or very close to the substorm expansion phase onset sector during the interval. The onset region was observed at low latitudes on the ground, and has been confirmed to map back to within L=7 in the magnetotail. The active region was then observed to propagate tailward and poleward. Delays between the magnetic signature of the substorm field aligned currents and field dipolarisation have been measured. The observations support a near-Earth plasma instability mechanism for substorm expansion phase onset.

CRRES/Ground-based multi-instrument observations of an interval of substorm activity

Abstract. Observations are presented of data taken during a 3-h interval in which five clear substorm onsets/intensifications took place. During this interval ground-based data from the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar, a digital CCD all sky camera, and an extensive array of magnetometers were recorded. In addition data from the CRRES and DMSP spacecraft, whose footprints passed over Scandinavia very close to most of the ground-based instrumentation, are available. The locations and movements of the substorm current system in latitude and longitude, determined from ground and spacecraft magnetic field data, have been correlated with the locations and propagation of increased particle precipitation in the E-region at EISCAT, increased particle fluxes measured by CRRES and DMSP, with auroral luminosity and with ionospheric convection velocities. The onsets and propagation of the injection of magnetospheric particle populations and auroral luminosity have been compared. CRRES was within or very close to the substorm expansion phase onset sector during the interval. The onset region was observed at low latitudes on the ground, and has been confirmed to map back to within L =7 in the magnetotail. The active region was then observed to propagate tailward and poleward. Delays between the magnetic signature of the substorm field aligned currents and field dipolarisation have been measured. The observations support a near-Earth plasma instability mechanism for substorm expansion phase onset.

The heliospheric current sheet and modulation of galactic cosmic rays

The relatively abrupt onset of cosmic ray modulation, observed in May 1987 on Earth and in September 1987 by the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft, enables further investigation of the possible effect of the heliospheric current sheet (sector boundary) on modulation. According to the gradient drift theory of cosmic ray transport, modulation is associated with solar cycle changes in the current sheet, whose inclination increases systematically from solar minimum to solar maximum. The measure used in testing this hypothesis is the difference in the maximum latitudinal extent of the current sheet in the northern and southern solar hemispheres. This difference is obtained from contours of the current sheet produced by extrapolating photospheric magnetic field measurements to a solar wind source surface. When the latitude difference, divided by 2 and called the pseudoinclination or pseudotilt angle, is compared with cosmic ray count rates measured on Earth, an excellent correlation is found, as in a previous study of modulation in the years 1976–1986. The abruptness of the onset can be attributed to the greater sensitivity of the cosmic ray intensity to changes in the current sheet when the solar‐heliospheric magnetic field is inward in the northern hemisphere (above the current sheet) as predicted by the model. Thus the observations are found to be consistent with the predictions of the gradient drift model. A preliminary analysis is also carried out to test an alternative, but not necessarily incompatible, hypothesis that large‐scale transient solar wind structures (coronal mass ejections, shocks, etc.) form barriers to the inward transport of cosmic rays. Available spacecraft magnetic field measurements (ICE, Pioneer 11), geomagnetic activity, including storm sudden commencements, and Forbush decreases do not reveal an obvious change in solar wind stream structure within several months of the modulation onset. It appears that in this instance, promoted by the abruptness of the onset, it may be possible to discriminate between the effect on modulation of the heliospheric current sheet and the possible effect of solar wind shocks and/or ejecta.

Jupiter's and Saturn's fine-scale magnetic fields

Jupiter's field is strongly dipolar but with relatively large high order moments compared to the Earth's. In situ magnetic field data allow us to interpret most of the Earth-based microwave observations of Jupiter, with the exception of Branson's hot spot. Decametric emissions have a complex rotational pattern which has been stable since 1950; their agreement with the spacecraft magnetic fields is much less satisfactory than that of the microwaves. We conclude that the extrapolation of magnetic fields from the spacecraft to the surface of Jupiter is in error by 40% in the Southern Hemisphere. Saturn's radio emissions show complexities similar to Jupiter's. They are strongly asymmetric about the rotational axis, although Saturn's Field is nearly axisymmetric. Their strong asymmetry suggests strong longitudinal variations in the magnetic field a few thousand kilometers from the cloud tops, in conflict with the field measured aboard Pioneer 11. The magnetic fields within a few thousand kilometers of either Jupiter's or Saturn's cloud tops are probably unknown. It is discouraging that more is not known about the fields after a total of 7 encounters. Perhaps the Galileo probe can test usefully models of the Jupiter field, even if its measurements refer to just one trajectory through the clouds. An arguable case can be made that the giant planets exhibit complexity of magnetic structure similar to the Sun.

Experimental study of flare-generated collisionless interplanetary shock wave propagation

This paper presents a review of the general properties of flare-generated collisionless interplanetary shock wave propagation, determined from multiple spacecraft plasma and magnetic field observations and by means of interplanetary scintillation of radio sources.

Magnetic field experiment for Voyagers 1 and 2

The magnetic field experiment to be carried on the Voyager 1 and 2 missions consists of dual low field (LFM) and high field magnetometer (HFM) systems. The dual systems provide greater reliability and, in the case of the LFM's, permit the separation of spacecraft magnetic fields from the ambient fields. Additional reliability is achieved through electronics redundancy. The wide dynamic ranges of ± 0.5 G for the LFM's and ± 20 G for the HFM's, low quantization uncertainty of ± 0.002 γ (γ = 10−5 G) in the most sensitive (± 8 γ) LFM range, low sensor RMS noise level of 0.006 γ, and use of data compaction schemes to optimize the experiment information rate all combine to permit the study of a broad spectrum of phenomena during the mission. Objectives include the study of planetary fields at Jupiter, Saturn, and possibly Uranus; satellites of these planets; solar wind and satellite interactions with the planetary fields; and the large-scale structure and microscale characteristics of the interplanetary magnetic, field. The interstellar field may also be measured.

Spacecraft magnetic field modeling

Excellent results have recently been obtained using a new analysis technique developed by this author to model spacecraft magnetic fields. The technique described here is capable of producing accurate mathematical models of magnetic fields surrounding almost any magnetic object. The model is most accurate in a planar region bounded by the field determination magnetometers with a minimum radius large enough to enclose the magnetic source. In a controlled magnetic environment, Spacecraft magnetic field modeling accuracy was typically better than 1×10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-9</sup> tesla (one gamma). The possibility of considerably enhanced spacecraft magnetic testing is offered by using the new modeling technique in conjunction with a computer-controlled magnetic field measurement system. Such a system could be incorporated into existing magnetic measurement facilities to provide a near-real-time magnetic field display capability.

Theoretical and observational analysis of spacecraft fields

In order to investigate the nondipolar contributions of spacecraft magnetic fields a simple magnetic field model is proposed. This model consists of randomly oriented dipoles in a given volume. Two sets of formulas are presented which give the rms-multipole field components, for isotropic orientations of the dipoles at given positions and for isotropic orientations of the dipoles distributed uniformly throughout a cube or sphere. The statistical results for an 8 cu m cube together with individual examples computed numerically show the following features: Beyond about 2 to 3 m distance from the center of the cube, the field is dominated by an equivalent dipole. The magnitude of the magnetic moment of the dipolar part is approximated by an expression for equal magnetic moments or generally by the Pythagorean sum of the dipole moments. The radial component is generally greater than either of the transverse components for the dipole portion as well as for the nondipolar field contributions.

Magnetic Field Observations near Venus: Preliminary Results from Mariner 10

The NASA-GSFC magnetic field experiment on Mariner 10 is the first flight of a dual magnetometer system conceived to permit accurate measurements of weak magnetic fields in space in the presence of a significant and variable spacecraft magnetic field. Results from a preliminary analysis of a limted data set are summarized in this report, which is restricted primarily to Venus encounter. A detached bow shock wave that develops as the super Alfvénic solar wind interacts with the Venusian atmosphere has been observed. However, the unique coincidence of trajectory position and interplanetary field orientation at the time of bow shock crossing led to a very disturbed shock profile with considerably enhanced upstream magnetic fluctuations. At present it is not possible to ascertain the nature and characteristics of the obstacle responsible for deflecting the solar wind flow. Far downstream disturbances associated with the solar wind wake have been observed.

A variation of the Davis-Smith method for in-flight determination of spacecraft magnetic fields

A variation of a procedure developed by Davis and Smith (1968) is presented for the in-flight determination of spacecraft magnetic fields. Both methods take statistical advantage of the observation that fluctuations in the interplanetary magnetic field over short periods of time are primarily changes in direction rather than in magnitude. During typical solar wind conditions between 0.8 and 1.0 AU, a statistical analysis of 2-3 days of continuous interplanetary field measurements yields an estimate of a constant spacecraft field with an uncertainty of plus or minus 0.25 gamma in the direction radial to the sun and plus or minus 15 gammas in the directions transverse to the radial. The method is also of use in estimating variable spacecraft fields with gradients of the order of 0.1 gamma/day and less and in other special circumstances.

The Pioneer Jupiter magnetic control program

The Pioneer Jupiter spacecraft was required to have a sufficiently small magnetic field that accurate interplanetary-magnetic field measurements would not be compromised. In order to control the magnetic field throughout the program a running account of spacecraft magnetic fields was maintained by means of a periodically updated magnetic model. This model was used to make economic tradeoffs in subsystem magnetic moments within the allowed magnetic budget. The program was culminated with a measurement of the magnetic field of the spacecraft. A description of the magnetic tests and a comparison with estimates made with the magnetic model are also presented.