Magnetospheric physics articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Alfvén waves are fundamental plasma modes that provide a mechanism for the transfer of energy between particles and fields. Here the authors confirm experimentally the conservative energy exchange between Alfvén wave fields and plasma particles via high-resolution MMS observations of Earth’s magnetosphere.

    • Daniel J. Gershman
    • , Adolfo F-Viñas
    •  & James L. Burch

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The interaction between the Earth’s magnetic field and the solar wind results in the formation of a collisionless bow shock. Here, the authors study an even in which the solar wind Mach number remained steadily below one, leading to the evanescence of the bow shock and loss of electrons in the outer belts.

    • Noé Lugaz
    • , Charles J. Farrugia
    •  & Nathan A. Schwadron

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The processes that lead to losses of highly energetic particles from Earth’s radiation belts remain poorly understood. Here the authors compare observations and models of a 2013 event to show that electromagnetic ioncyclotron waves provide the dominant loss mechanism at ultra-relativistic energies.

    • Yuri Y. Shprits
    • , Alexander Y. Drozdov
    •  & Nikita A. Aseev

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Relativistic electrons trapped in the Van Allen radiation belts sometimes exhibit a minimum of their pitch angle distribution at 90°. Here, the authors explain the origin of this phenomenon in terms of chorus and magnetosonic waves through simulations and observations of a geomagnetic storm data.

    • Fuliang Xiao
    • , Chang Yang
    •  & J. B. Blake

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Since the 1970s space missions have observed `equatorial noise' — noise-like plasma waves closely confined to the magnetic equatorial region of Earth s magnetosphere. Here, the authors uncover their structured and periodic frequency pattern, revealing that they are generated by proton distributions.

    • Michael A. Balikhin
    • , Yuri Y. Shprits
    •  & Benjamin Weiss

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental energy release process taking place in various astrophysical environments, but it is difficult to observe it directly. Here, the authors provide evidence of three-dimensional magnetic reconnection in a solar eruption using combined perspectives of two spacecraft.

    • J. Q. Sun
    • , X. Cheng
    •  & C. Fang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Coronal mass ejections from the Sun play an important role in space weather, yet a full understanding of their behaviour remains elusive. Towards this aim, Möstl et al. present a suite of observations showing that an ejection was channelled away from its source region, explaining incorrect forecasts.

    • Christian Möstl
    • , Tanja Rollett
    •  & Bojan Vršnak

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Whistler-mode waves regulate trapped electrons in the magnetosphere, but an accurate determination of their energy budget has remained elusive. This study presents a full analysis of their magnetic and electric field contributions and finds that a large amount of energy is stored in oblique waves.

    • A.V. Artemyev
    • , O.V. Agapitov
    •  & F.S. Mozer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Although magnetic reconnection is recognized as the dominant mode for solar wind plasma to enter the magnetosphere, Kelvin–Helmholtz waves (KHW) have been suggested to also be involved. Here, the authors use 7 years of THEMIS data to show that KHW occur 19% of the time, and may be important for plasma transport.

    • Shiva Kavosi
    •  & Joachim Raeder

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The origins of the Sun’s periodic activity, such as sunspot cycles, are poorly understood. McIntosh et al.posit that the rotational forcing of the activity bands comprising the 22-year magnetic cycle undergoes shorter-term variations, driving magnetic flux surges that impact solar output on those timescales.

    • Scott W. McIntosh
    • , Robert J. Leamon
    •  & Roger K. Ulrich

  • Article |

    Lunar swirls are high-albedo features on the Moon whose origins are widely debated. Using observations from the Diviner Lunar Radiometer, Glotch et al. present evidence supporting the idea that the swirls arise from abnormal space weathering caused by local magnetic field deflection of solar wind.

    • Timothy D. Glotch
    • , Joshua L. Bandfield
    •  & David A. Paige

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