Magnetic properties of the high-latitude tail boundary: Draping of magnetosheath field lines and tail-aligned current

摘要: Magnetic properties of the high-latitude tail boundary are examined with IMP 8 magnetometer data. The separates lobe from magnetosheath. fields stable in lobe, but very irregular Boundary crossings marked by rotation magnetic components parallel to plane. component normal boundary, if any, is small comparison this rotational change. Despite large fluctuations magnetosheath, magnetosheath-side field orientation consistent draping interplanetary (IMF) against magnetotail. current has a (tail-aligned current), as well circumferential component. IMF controls sheath-side BY, while lobe-side more rigid configuration flaring antisunward. Accordingly, polarity tail-aligned primarily determined sign BY; other words, shields magnetotail Y antisunward for positive BY and sunward negative northern hemisphere. also discussed terms cusp (mantle) system.