Cluster After 20 Years of Operations: Science Highlights and Technical Challenges

Escoubet, C. P.; Masson, A.; Laakso, H.; Goldstein, M. L.; Dimbylow, T.G.; Bogdanova, Y. V.; Hapgood, M. A.; Sousa, Bruno Teixeira de; Sieg, D.; Taylor, Matt

doi:10.1029/2021ja029474

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 38 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We used the following data provided by Cluster spacecraft (Escoubet et al., 2001, 2021): magnetic field measurements at 22 S/s (Samples per second) resolution provided by FGM (Flux Gate Magnetometer) instrument (Balogh et al., 2001), ion flow velocity at 4 s cadence provided by CIS/HIA (Cluster Ion Spectrometry/Hot Ion Analyzer) instrument (Rème et al., 2001), electric field spectra from about 2 to 80 kHz at the cadence of a few tenths of seconds and electron density estimates at 2 s cadence provided by WHISPER (Waves of High frequency and Sounder for Probing of Electron density by Relaxation) instrument (Décréau et al., 2001). The plasma density estimates provided by the WHISPER instrument aboard Cluster were consistent within 25% with plasma density estimates provided by Wind spacecraft (Wilson et al., 2021).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Solar Wind Current Sheets: MVA Inaccuracy and Recommended Single‐Spacecraft Methodology

Wang,

Vasko,

Phan

et al. 2024

JGR Space Physics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We present the analysis of 1,831 current sheets (CS) observed aboard four Cluster spacecraft in a pristine solar wind. Four‐spacecraft estimates of the CS normal and propagation velocity are compared with different single‐spacecraft estimates. The Minimum Variance Analysis (MVA) of the magnetic field is shown to be highly inaccurate in estimating the normal. The MVA normal often differs by more than 60° from the normal obtained by multi‐spacecraft timing method, likely due to ambient turbulent fluctuations. In contrast, the cross‐product of magnetic fields at the CS boundaries delivers the normal with an uncertainty of less than 15° at the confidence level of 90%. The CSs are essentially frozen into plasma flow, since their propagation velocity is consistent with local ion flow velocity within 20% at the confidence level of 90%. The single‐spacecraft methodology based on the cross‐product method and frozen‐in assumption delivers the CS thickness and current density amplitude within 20% of their actual values at the confidence level of 90%. The CSs are kinetic‐scale structures with half‐thickness λ from a few tenths to tens of local proton inertial length λp and scale‐dependent shear angle and current density amplitude, and . The classification of the CSs in terms of tangential and rotational discontinuities remains a challenge, because even the four‐spacecraft normal has too large uncertainties to reveal the actual normal magnetic field component. The presented results will be valuable for the analysis of solar wind CSs, when only single‐spacecraft measurements are available.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used the following data provided by Cluster spacecraft (Escoubet et al, 2001(Escoubet et al, , 2021…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar Wind Current Sheets: MVA Inaccuracy and Recommended Single‐Spacecraft Methodology

Wang,

Vasko,

Phan

et al. 2024

JGR Space Physics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Boundaries in space, including the terrestrial magnetopause were among the primary science objectives of the Cluster mission (see e.g., Escoubet, 2021;Escoubet et al, 1997Escoubet et al, , 2001. Since launch in 2000, Cluster has been in operation for more than 20 years, and has provided a wealth of new knowledge about the magnetopause.…”

Section: Introduction and Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

20 Years of Cluster Observations: The Magnetopause

Haaland

Hasegawa

Paschmann

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

<p>The terrestrial magnetopause forms the boundary between the solar wind plasma with its embedded interplanetary magnetic field on one side, and the terrestrial magnetosphere, dominated by Earth's dipole field, on the other side. It is therefore a key region for the transfer of mass, momentum, and energy from the solar wind to the magnetosphere. The Cluster mission, comprising a constellation of four spacecraft flying in formation was launched more than 20 years ago to study boundaries in space. During its lifetime, Cluster has provided a wealth of new knowledge about the magnetopause. In this presentation, we give an overview of Cluster-based studies of this boundary, and highlight a selection of interesting results.&#160;</p>

show abstract

Section: Introduction and Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

20 Years of Cluster Observations: The Magnetopause

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The terrestrial magnetopause forms the boundary between the solar wind plasma with its embedded interplanetary magnetic field on one side, and the terrestrial magnetosphere, dominated by Earth's dipole field, on the other side. It is therefore a key region for the transfer of mass, momentum, and energy from the solar wind to the magnetosphere. The Cluster mission, comprising a constellation of four spacecraft flying in formation was launched more than 20 years ago to study boundaries in space. During its lifetime, Cluster has provided a wealth of new knowledge about the magnetopause. In this paper, we give an overview of Cluster‐based studies of this boundary, and highlight a selection of interesting results.

show abstract

Cluster After 20 Years of Operations: Science Highlights and Technical Challenges

Cited by 12 publications

References 38 publications

Solar Wind Current Sheets: MVA Inaccuracy and Recommended Single‐Spacecraft Methodology

Solar Wind Current Sheets: MVA Inaccuracy and Recommended Single‐Spacecraft Methodology

20 Years of Cluster Observations: The Magnetopause

20 Years of Cluster Observations: The Magnetopause

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About