All magnetized planets in our solar system (Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) interact strongly with the solar wind and possess well developed magnetotails. However, Mars and Venus have no global intrinsic magnetic field, yet they possess induced magnetotails. Comets have a magnetotail that is formed by the draping of the interplanetary magnetic field. In the case of planetary satellites (moons), the magnetotail refers to the wake region behind the satellite in the flow of either the solar wind or the magnetosphere of its parent planet. The largest magnetotail in our solar system is the heliotail, the "magnetotail" of the heliosphere. The great differences in solar wind conditions, planetary rotation rates, ionospheric conductivity, and physical dimensions provide an outstanding opportunity to extend our understanding of the influence of these factors on magnetotail processes and structure.
Volume highlights include: a discussion of why a magnetotail is a fundamental issue in magnetospheric physics; a unique collection of tutorials that cover a large range of magnetotails in our solar system; a comparative approach to magnetotail phenomena, including reconnection, current sheet, rotation rate, plasmoids, and flux robes; and a review of global simulation studies of the effect of ionospheric outflow on the magnetosphere-ionosphere system dynamics.
Magnetotails in the Solar System brings together for the first time in one book a collection of tutorials and current developments addressing different types of magnetotails. As a result, Magnetotails in the Solar System will appeal to a broad community of space scientists and be of interest to astronomers who are looking at tail-like structures beyond our solar system.
Preface
Keiling, Jackman, Delamere
Section I: Introduction
Vasyliûnas The Magnetotail: An Unsolved Fundamental Problem of Magnetospheric Physics
Section II: Tutorials
1. Sundberg and Slavin
Mercury’s Magnetotail
2. Dubinin and Fraenz
Magnetotails of Mars and Venus
3. Robert McPherron
Earth’s Magnetotail
4. Krupp et al.
Jupiter’s Magnetotail
5. Jackman
Saturn’s Magnetotail
6. Arridge
Magnetotails of Uranus and Neptune
7. Jia
Satellites’ Magnetotails
8. Halekas et al.
The Moon’s Plasma Wake
9. Gombosi
Physics of Cometary Magnetospheres
10. McComas
The Heliotail
Section III: Specialized Topics
11. Southwood
The Formation of Magnetotails: Fast and Slow Rotators Compared
12. Delamere
Solar Wind Interaction with the Giant Magnetospheres and Earth’s magnetosphere
13. Wing and Johnson
Solar Wind Entry and Transport at Earth’s and other Planetary’s Magnetotails
14. Hesse et al.
Magnetic Reconnection in Different Environments: Similarities and Differences
15. Eastwood and Kiehas
Origin and Evolution of Plasmoids and Flux Ropes in the Magnetotails of Earth and Mars
16. Otto et al.
Current Sheets in Planetary Magnetospheres
17. Haerendel
Substorms: Plasma and Magnetic Flux Transport from the Magnetic Tail into the Magnetosphere
18. Mitchell et al.
Injection, Interchange And Reconnection: Energetic Particle Observations in Saturn's Magnetotail
19. Reeves
Radiation Belt Electron Acceleration and the Role of the Magnetotail
20. Kepko et al.
The Substorm Current Wedge at Mercury and Earth
21. Wiltberger
Review of Global Simulation Studies of the Effect of Ionospheric Outflow on the Magnetosphere-Ionosphere System Dynamics