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Abstract Solar wind directional discontinuities, such as rotational discontinuities (RDs), significantly influence energy and transport processes in the Earth's magnetosphere. A recent observational study identified a long‐lasting double cusp precipitation event associated with RD in solar wind on 10 April 2015. To understand the magnetosphere‐ionosphere response to the solar wind RD, a global hybrid simulation of the magnetosphere was conducted, with solar wind conditions based on the observation event. The simulation results show significant variations in the magnetopause and cusp regions caused by the passing RD. After the RD propagates to the magnetopause, ion precipitation intensifies, and a double cusp structure at varying latitudes and longitudes forms near noon in the northern hemisphere, which is consistent with the satellite observations by Wing et al. (2023,https://doi.org/10.1029/2023gl103194). Regarding dayside magnetopause reconnection, the simulation reveals that the high‐latitude reconnection process persists during the RD passing, regardless of whether the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) with a highBy/Bzratio has a positive or negativeBzcomponent, and low‐latitude reconnection occurs after the RD reaches the magnetopause at noon when the IMF turns southward. By examining the ion sources along the magnetic field lines, a connection is found between the single‐ or double‐cusp ion precipitation and the solar wind ions entering from both high‐latitude and low‐latitude reconnection sites. This result suggests that the double‐cusp structure can be triggered by magnetic reconnection occurring at both low latitudes and high latitudes in the opposite hemispheres, associated with a largeBy/Bzratio of the IMF around the RD.more » « less
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Abstract Coronal mass ejections (CMEs), as seen in white-light (WL) coronagraphs, often exhibit a classic three-part structure consisting of a bright front, a dark cavity, and a bright core. With the launch of Solar Orbiter, cospatial imaging of solar eruptions in multiwavelengths of extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) and WL has become available. We present a CME that erupted on 2022 September 23, observed under a uniquely favorable viewing geometry. The CME bright core and its eruptive prominence can be cospatially observed up to a coronal height of 3.5R⊙in the middle corona, in WL using COR1 on board STEREO-A and in EUV using the Full Sun Imager on board Solar Orbiter. Cospatial, multiwavelength observations indicate that the CME bright core observed in WL was almost entirely composed of the prominence material, which was heated during the CME eruption. EUV emissions in 174 and 304 Å of the prominence were largely cospatial when the CME propagated to the middle corona, though subtle differences remained. We further discuss the potential temperature in the bright core region and find that the core was heated as it rose, likely reaching temperatures of about 0.1–0.8 MK.more » « less
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Abstract Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are commonly observed in the Earth's magnetosphere and play a significant role in regulating relativistic electron fluxes. The waveform of EMIC waves comprises amplitude‐modulated wave packets, known as “subpackets.” Despite their prevalence, the underlying physics and associated particle dynamics for subpacket formation remain poorly understood. In this study, using Van Allen Probe A observations, we present several rising‐tone EMIC wave events to reveal the downward frequency chirping between adjacent subpackets. By performing a hybrid simulation, we demonstrate for the first time that these wave properties are associated with the oscillation of proton holes in the wave gyrophase space induced by cyclotron resonance. The oscillation modulates the energy transfer between waves and particles, establishing a direct link between subpacket formation in cyclotron waves and nonlinear wave‐particle interactions. This new understanding advances our knowledge of subpacket formation in general and its broader implications in space plasma physics.more » « less
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Abstract Understanding the location and evolution of the cool dense prominence in relation to the large-scale structure of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) is critical to distinguish between different CME initiation mechanisms and to further deepen our understanding of CME evolution through the heliosphere. Combining remote observations of extreme-ultraviolet images and white-light coronagraphs and heliospheric imagers (HIs) obtained from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, STEREO-A, and Solar Orbiter, we present an analysis of the continuous tracking from the corona to interplanetary space of the substructures of a CME associated with a prominence that erupted on 2022 September 23. The prominence is found to remain bright and compact during the CME propagation for more than three days. We investigate the kinematic evolution of the CME substructures as the CME propagated to around 0.5 au. We find that for the first 0.28 au, both the CME front and prominence propagated coherently, indicating that the prominence was tied to the CME magnetic structure. Beyond 0.28 au, the CME bright front was seen to be distorted. However, the prominence continued to propagate at a nearly constant velocity up to at least 0.5 au. STEREO-A/HI images further show a dark ridge-like feature trailing the CME that passed over the prominence, and the prominence appeared tilted. We deduce that the prominence propagated independently of the CME at larger distances from the Sun. Overall, this study shows that both previously proposed hypotheses—namely, that the prominence is tied to or propagates independently of the CME—are valid but within different distance ranges.more » « less
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