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Density Derivation Using Controlled Spacecraft Potential in Earth's Magnetosheath and Multi-scale Fluctuation Analysis
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  • Daniel Teubenbacher,
  • Owen Roberts,
  • Rumi Nakamura,
  • Yasuhito Narita,
  • Zoltán Voros,
  • Klaus Torkar,
  • Per-Arne Lindqvist,
  • Robert E Ergun
Daniel Teubenbacher
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Owen Roberts
Space Research Institute Graz/Austrian Academy of Sciences
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Rumi Nakamura
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences
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Yasuhito Narita
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences
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Zoltán Voros
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences
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Klaus Torkar
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences
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Per-Arne Lindqvist
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
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Robert E Ergun
Univeristy of Colorado
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Abstract

In-situ measurements from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission are used to estimate electron density from spacecraft potential and investigate compressive turbulence in the Earth’s magnetosheath. During the MMS Solar Wind Turbulence Campaign in February 2019, the four MMS spacecraft were arranged in a logarithmic line constellation enabling the study of measurements from multiple spacecraft at varying distances. We estimate the electron density from spacecraft potential for a time interval in which the ion emitters actively control the potential. The derived electron density data product has a higher temporal resolution than the plasma instruments, enabling the examination of fluctuation for scales down to the sub-ion range. The inter-spacecraft separations range from 132 km to 916 km; this corresponds to scales of 3.5 to 24.1 ion inertial lengths. The derived density and magnetic field data are used to study fluctuations in the magnetosheath through time lags on a single spacecraft and spatial lags between pairs of spacecraft over almost one decade in scale. The results show an increase in anisotropy as the scale decreases.