THEMIS observation of multiple dipolarization fronts and associated wave characteristics in the near-Earth magnetotail

Multiple dipolarization fronts were observed by THEMIS spacecraft in the near-Earth magnetotail during a substorm. The dipolarization fronts were located at the leading edge of earthward propagating plasma bubbles. Major energetic electron flux enhancements were observed at the dipolarization fronts, which were also associated with large wave fluctuations extending from below the lower hybrid frequency to above the electron cyclotron frequency. Intense electric field wave packets, primarily contributed by the Hall electric field and lower hybrid drift (LHD) wave, were observed right at the front, which was a thin current layer with size of the order of the ion inertial length. The LHD wave was believed to be generated by a diamagnetic current in the presence of density and temperature gradients. Electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves were detected slightly after the front. The ECH waves were probably generated by the positive slope of the electron perpendicular velocity distribution. Both of these waves are suggested to be able to heat electrons. The observation of these waves at the dipolarization front could be important for the understanding of electron energization during substorm injection, as well as the mechanism of current disruption. Citation: Zhou, M., M. Ashour-Abdalla, X. Deng, D. Schriver, M. El-Alaoui, and Y. Pang (2009), THEMIS observation of multiple dipolarization fronts and associated wave characteristics in the near-Earth magnetotail, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L20107, doi: 10.1029/2009GL040663.