Oxygen energization by localized perpendicular electric fields at the cusp boundary

Abstract

We report Cluster observations of oxygen energization by several keV at the boundary between the high latitude cusp and lobe. A localized electric field at the cusp/lobe boundary is responsible for a significant part of the observed energization. Such electric fields can be related to the separatrix region of reconnection at the magnetopause. Ions are accelerated as they move non-adiabatically in the spatially inhomogeneous electric field. Additional heating may be provided by low frequency waves at the oxygen gyrofrequency. Copyright © 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.