{"paper_id":"5e9ca304-a762-4010-8b9c-0d331a4b8272","body_text":"Plasma structuring within an expanded polar cap and cusp studied with the SS-520-3 sounding rocket | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Plasma structuring within an expanded polar cap and cusp studied with the SS-520-3 sounding rocket Lisa M. Buschmann, Kazushi Asamura, Lasse Clausen, Yaqi Jin, Hirotsugu Kojima, and 8 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3694536/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 May, 2025 Read the published version in Earth, Planets and Space → Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The SS-520-3 sounding rocket was launched on November 4th, 2021 as part of the Grand Challenge Initiative - Cusp from Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. The rocket was launched into the cusp ionosphere during the main phase of a geomagnetic storm. In this study we utilize two low energy particle analyzers as well as a multi-needle Langmuir probe and an impedance probe as part of the rocket payload. This study aims to provide an overview of the flight conditions from a range of ground-based instruments and scintillation receivers. We were able to confirm that the rocket entered the cusp through the poleward edge at around 74° of northern geographic latitude. Additionally, the rocket encountered polar cap patches (PCP), as well as a patch within the cusp (CP) and a newly-formed tongue of ionisation (TOI). Analysis of the density variations within different scale sizes show enhancements within meter-size and kilometer-size scales on the edges of PCP, within the CP and TOI. Overall, the enhancements within the variations on all sizes, as well as enhancements within the electron density were significantly higher within the CP and TOI in comparison to the PCP, though all structures were encountered at similar altitudes. The strongest enhancements were found on the poleward edge of the TOI, corresponding to strong fluctuations within the electron density. The TOI also had the largest enhancements within gradients of kilometer-size in comparison to meter-sizes. As the TOI is convecting with respect to the background plasma, the edges are susceptible to instabilities like the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) and Gradient-Drift instability (GDI), giving rise to plasma density structures on several scale sizes. Full Text Supplementary Files ganew.jpg Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 May, 2025 Read the published version in Earth, Planets and Space → Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Mar, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 10 Mar, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 22 Jan, 2025 First submitted to journal 31 Dec, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-3694536\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":426550813,\"identity\":\"d8668128-8d15-4c7e-9e76-ae6dc9e7ea17\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Lisa M. 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