Braking of high-speed flows in the near-Earth tail

摘要: We have studied possible braking mechanisms of high-speed ion flows in the near-Earth central plasma sheet for radial distances between 9 and 19 Earth Radii (RE) on basis observations made by AMPTE/IRM satellite. Flows with velocities excess 400 km/s are almost always Earthward this range, indicating that source is beyond RE. Though occurrence rate substantially decreases when satellite comes closer to Earth, higher than 600 still observed. suggest stopped at a clear boundary regions dipolar field tail-like sheet. The corresponds inner edge neutral average jump magnetic boundary, which estimated from assuming pressure balance, 6.7 nT. inertia current caused flow pileup flux stopping point quantitatively discussed relation formation substorm wedge.