Contribution of different source and loss processes to the magnetospheric plasma content

Abstract

Chapters 2 to 6 review and discuss the source and loss processes for magnetospheric plasma at the inner and outer magnetosphere boundaries. The objective in this chapter is to evaluate the relative importance of these various processes for the plasma content of the entire magnetosphere. The plasma, which is quasi-neutral in all situations of interest here (this does not imply that no small charge separations occur), may in terms of number density and flow be determined by ion or electron measurements. As several ion species in the magnetosphere have only one specific source, whereas the origin of the electrons is much more difficult to determine, most experimental data dealt with here concern ions. This chapter, like the earlier ones, does not dwell upon the transfer of energy and momentum. We try to identify the dominant source and loss processes in each region and then consider the macroscopic system as a whole, emphasising the overall balance of sources and losses. This survey allows us to identify significant gaps in our knowledge. We propose methods of remedying these gaps in the next chapter.