Articles | Volume 24, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-24-1479-2006
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-24-1479-2006
03 Jul 2006
 | 03 Jul 2006

Bifurcation of Jovian magnetotail current sheet

P. L. Israelevich and A. I. Ershkovich

Abstract. Multiple crossings of the magnetotail current sheet by a single spacecraft give the possibility to distinguish between two types of electric current density distribution: single-peaked (Harris type current layer) and double-peaked (bifurcated current sheet). Magnetic field measurements in the Jovian magnetic tail by Voyager-2 reveal bifurcation of the tail current sheet. The electric current density possesses a minimum at the point of the Bx-component reversal and two maxima at the distance where the magnetic field strength reaches 50% of its value in the tail lobe.

Download