The magnetic field in the solar wind is not constant, but varies in direction and strength. One of these variations shows a strong local reduction of the magnetic field strength and is called magnetic hole. These holes are usually an indication that there is, or has been, a temperature difference in the plasma of the solar wind, with the temperature along the magnetic field lower than perpendicular. The MMS spacecraft data have been used to study the characteristics of these holes near Earth.
The magnetic field in the solar wind is not constant, but varies in direction and strength. One...
Received: 27 May 2020 – Accepted for review: 06 Jul 2020 – Discussion started: 08 Jul 2020
Abstract. The MMS1 data for 8 months in the winter periods of 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, when MMS had its apogee in the upstream solar wind of the Earth's bow shock, are used to study Linear Magnetic Holes (LMHs). These LMHs are characterized by a magnetic depression of more than 50 % and a rotation of the background magnetic field of less then 10°. 426 LMHs are found and, based on their magnetoplasma characteristics, are split into three categories: cold (increase in density, little change in ion temperature), hot (increase in ion temperature, decrease in density) and sign change (at least one magnetic field component changes sign). The occurrence rate of LMHs is 2.3 per day. All LMHs are basically in pressure balance with the ambient plasma. Most of the linear magnetic holes are found in ambient plasmas that are stable against the mirror-mode generation, but only half of the holes are mirror-mode stable inside.
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The magnetic field in the solar wind is not constant, but varies in direction and strength. One of these variations shows a strong local reduction of the magnetic field strength and is called magnetic hole. These holes are usually an indication that there is, or has been, a temperature difference in the plasma of the solar wind, with the temperature along the magnetic field lower than perpendicular. The MMS spacecraft data have been used to study the characteristics of these holes near Earth.
The magnetic field in the solar wind is not constant, but varies in direction and strength. One...