INFLUX OF CHARGED PARTICLES AT MAGNETIC CUSPS ON BOUNDARY OF MAGNETOSPHERE

The influx of charged particles from the postulated cusp-shaped regions of stagnant plasma trapped in the vicinity of the two magnetic cusps (which were treated as true neutral points in the earlier studies) on the polar magnetopause is re-examined. It is argued that the discharge of the polarization electric field at the magnetopause through the magnetosphere-ionosphere circuit under steady-state conditions leads to an increase in the influx of particles. Moreover, once the electrostatic field is completely discharged, the maximum influx from each cusped containment region can be calculated analytically from a steady-state statistical model, without restrictive assumptions regarding the form of the equilibrium configuration. It is found that the influx of protons from each cusp is about 5 × 1024 per sec for representative solar wind parameters. This provides a maximum influx of energy from each cusp of about 1015 ergs per sec. © 1969.