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    Plasma Regions

    Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer

    Animation of generation process of ion beams

    The Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer (PSBL) is often the most active plasma region of the magnetotail. Ion beams are observed coming from and flowing towards the Earth. Multi-point measurements are essential to derive the exact origin of these beams and to learn more about the generating mechanism (see Featured highlight below).

    Electric currents are also observed in this region. They are aligned with the Earth's magnetic field, flowing towards and away from the Earth. The Fluxgate Magnetometer (FGM), one of 11 instruments on board Cluster, enables the current flowing in the vicinity of the four spacecraft to be calculated – for the first time ever - without having to make assumptions about the shape and orientation of the current sheet.

    Featured highlight in this region:
    Cluster explains nightside ion beams    		 Cluster explains nightside ion beams

    The Magnetotail
    The auroral zone

    Last Update: 29 Nov 2010

    • Shortcut URL
    • http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=33272
    • Related Articles
    • Solar Wind & Bow Shock
    • The Magnetopause
    • Polar Cusps
    • The Magnetotail
    • Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer
    • The auroral zone

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