IMAGE Science Objectives

• RPI observations:

  • Plasma entry at the magnetopause
    • Determine thickness of the magnetopause boundary layer at several locations simultaneously under variable
    • Look for signatures of reconnection at the magnetopause
    • Distinguish temporal and spatial variations
  • Plasma entry via the polar cusp
    • Obtain location, size, density profile of the polar cusp
    • Distinguish temporal and spatial variations

• RPI supporting observations:

  • Plasma entry from the ionosphere: support LENA observations
  • Observe nightside plasma density profile: support EUV observations
  • Observe cusp shape: support cusp footprint observations by FUV

What are the dominant mechanisms for injecting plasma into the magnetosphere on substorm and magnetic storm time scales?