Escape of O super(+) through the distant tail plasma sheet

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 37; no. 21; p. np
• Main Authors: Kistler, L M, Galvin, AB, Popecki, MA, Simunac, KDC, Farrugia, C, Moebius, E, Lee, MA, Blush, L M, Bochsler, P, Wurz, P, Klecker, B, Wimmer-Schweingruber, R F, Opitz, A, Sauvaud, J-A, Thompson, B, Russell, C T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.2010
• Subjects: Beams (radiation); Density; Flux; Magnetosheath; Outflow; Spacecraft; Storms; Transport
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2010GL045075

In February 2007, the STEREO-B spacecraft encountered the magnetosheath, plasma sheet and plasma sheet boundary layer from about 200 R sub(E) to 300 R sub(E) downtail. This time period was during solar minimum, and there was no storm activity during this month. Using data from the PLASTIC instrument, we find that even during quiet times, O super(+) is a constant feature of the deep magnetotail, with an O super(+) density of about 15% of the O super(+) density in the near-earth plasma sheet for similar conditions. The tailward flux of the O super(+) is similar to the flux of O super(+) beams that have been observed in the lobe/mantle region of the deep tail. The total outflow rate of the O super(+) down the plasma sheet is 1.1 10 super(24) ions/s, which is 10% of the total outflow rate of 1 10 super(25) ions/s, and of the same order as the estimated loss from dayside transport.