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Occurrence of Kelvin–Helmholtz Instability at Lunar Distance Magnetopause: ARTEMIS Observation

Authors :
J. Y. Feng
Y. Zhou
J. Y. Lu
M. Wang
J. Y. Li
H. X. Zhang
F. Tang
F. L. Yue
Source :
The Astrophysical Journal, Vol 972, Iss 1, p 86 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
IOP Publishing, 2024.

Abstract

Kelvin–Helmholtz waves can be observed frequently at the near-Earth magnetopause and play an important role in the transport of particles, momentum, and energy from the solar wind to the magnetosphere. This work analyzes the occurrence of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI) at lunar distance magnetopause, which has not been thoroughly studied currently based on Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun satellite observations, and it also investigates the effect of the upstream solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Statistical results show that (1) the occurrence rate is about 15% of the time at lunar distance, lower than at the flank magnetopause, and (2) the occurrence rate decreases with the magnetoacoustic Mach number, Alfvén Mach number, solar wind velocity, and dynamic pressure but only shows a slightly positive correlation with solar wind density. Unlike at the dayside magnetopause, the occurrence rate of KHI diminishes as the solar wind velocity increases at the lunar distance magnetopause, and (3) the occurrence rate decreases with IMF amplitude and is influenced by IMF orientation. As a function of the IMF clock angle, the occurrence rate reaches its maximum at ∼24% when the clock angle is zero. The statistical results are basically consistent with the currently accepted linear theory of KHI, except for a lower rate for higher-speed solar wind. This work contributes to understanding the excitation and evolution of KHI along the magnetopause and plasma transport process in the tail magnetopause.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
15384357
Volume :
972
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
The Astrophysical Journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.27c06de7e6574d33b6621fb79b01d327
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad6159