Plasma Density Estimates From Spacecraft Potential Using MMS Observations in the Dayside MagnetosphereShow others and affiliations
2018 (English)In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics, ISSN 2169-9380, E-ISSN 2169-9402, Vol. 123, no 4, p. 2620-2629Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Using spacecraft potential observations with and without active spacecraft potential control (on/off) from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, we estimate the average photoelectron emission as well as derive the plasma density information from spacecraft potential variations and active spacecraft potential control ion current. Such estimates are of particular importance especially during periods when the plasma instruments are not in operation and also when electron density observations with higher time resolution than the ones available from particle detectors are necessary. We compare the average photoelectron emission of different spacecraft and discuss their differences. We examine several time intervals when we performed our density estimations in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of our data set. We finally compare our derived density estimates with the plasma density observations provided by plasma detectors onboard MMS, whenever available, and discuss the overall results. The estimated electron densities should only be used as a proxy of the electron density, complimentary to the plasma moments derived by plasma detectors, especially when the latter are turned off or when higher time resolution observations are required. While the derived data set can often provide valuable information about the plasma environment, the actual values may often be very far from the actual plasma density values and should therefore be used with caution.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION , 2018. Vol. 123, no 4, p. 2620-2629
National Category
Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-231238DOI: 10.1002/2017JA025086ISI: 000433498400011Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85045343794OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-231238DiVA, id: diva2:1228094
Note
QC 20180627
2018-06-272018-06-272022-06-26Bibliographically approved