Abstract

The theory of hot plasma stratification in the region of upward field-aligned current suggests the condition of the magnetostatic equilibrium and plasma pressure variation directly related to magnetospheric potential variation. This theory was developed using a Maxwellian shape for the plasma distribution function and the assumption of a definite temperature. Such an approximation underestimate the contribution of energetic particles to the plasma pressure. The use of kappa distributions, alternatively, results in a more correct value of the main parameter of the theory of hot plasma splitting. The theoretical analysis is compared with the results of experimental observations published by Antonova et al., 1998. © 2003 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.