Personal Vitae

Dr. D. H. Fairfield
DATE OF BIRTH: July 24, 1938 
PRESENT POSITION: AST-Astrophysicist, 
Planetary Magnetospheres Branch, 
Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, NASA Goddard Space Flight 
Center
RESEARCH AREA EXPERIENCE: Experimental and theoretical studies of magnetic fields and plasmas in space. 
Interaction of the solar wind with planetary magnetospheres 
EDUCATION: 
1960 - B.A. Beloit College
1962 - M.S. Pennsylvania State Univ.
1965 - Ph.D. Pennsylvania State Univ.
PREVIOUS POSITIONS: 
1960-1965 Research Assistant, Ionosphere 
Research Lab., Penn State Univ. 
1962 Summer Student NASA/Ames Research Center 
1964 Summer Research Associate 
University of New Hampshire 
1966-1967 NAS/NRC Postdoctoral Resident 
Research Associate, Fields & Plasmas Branch, 
NASA/GSFC 
1966-present Co-Investigator magnetic field experiments on Explorers 28, 34, 
4l, 43, GEOS, AMPTE/CCE, GEOTAIL and Cluster. Co-Investigator HYDRA plasma experiment on ISTP Polar 
Spacecraft 1968--1970 Research Scientist - Extraterrestrial Physics Branch - NASA/GSFC 
1970-present Research Scientist Space Plasma Physics & Planetary Magnetospheres Branch, NASA/GSFC 
1976-1978 Associate Editor Journal of Geophysical Research 
1980-1982 ISEE Guest Investigator 
1990--1995 ISTP Deputy Project Scientist for Equatorial Science
1992--1995 ISTP Deputy Project Scientist for Geotail
1995--present ISTP Project Scientist for Equatorial Science
1995--present ISTP Project Scientist for Geotail
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES: American Geophysical Union 
Dr Fairfield is a member of the Planetary Magnetospheres Branch of the Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center where is has participated in spacecraft experiments for more than 30 years. He has been a co-investigator on more than 8 magnetic field and plasma experiments and has conducted pioneering research in many areas of magnetospheric physics including the foreshock, the bow shock, the magnetosheath and the magnetotail. His current prime interest is the earth's magnetotail and boundary layer. He is currently NASA's Project Scientist for Geotail. Dr. Fairfield is a member of the American Geophysical Union and has served as a Associate Editor for the Journal of Geophysical Research. He has received an Editor's Citation for Excellence in Refereeing from both the Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) and Geophysical Research Letters.

Accomplishments --- Donald H. Fairfield

PRIMARY SCIENTIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1966 First demonstration that the Interplanetary Magnetic Field controls geomagnetic activity.
1969 First demonstration that waves upstream of the bow shock are associated with the shock. i.e. there is a foreshock.
1970 Early indication of the role of the magnetotail in magnetospheric substorms.
1974 First conclusive identification of whistler waves upstream from the bow shock.
1975 First magnetospheric magnetic field model based on spacecraft observations.
1968,1979,1986 and 1987 Elucidation of the configuration of the geomagnetic field and the distribution of flux crossing the equatorial plane.
1981, Simultaneous  2 spacecraft measumrents indicating structure and dynamics of the magnetotail
1985 First demonstration that the polar rain is due to solar coronal electrons ( the solar wind strahl) precipitating over the earth's polar caps.
1989 Use of multiple spacecraft measurements to delineate characteristics of the substorm current wedge and magnetotail dynamics.
1990 Discovery of a new mode of solar wind-magnetosphere interaction: Interplanetary magnetic field direction changes create pressure pulses at the bow shock which convect earthward and impact on the magnetosphere.
1991 Statistical study of the ISEE 3 data showing that the average geomagnetic tail radius is 24 Re and decreasing at a distance of 200 Re down the tail.
1993,1996 Demonstration that earth's magnetotail diminishes in size and perhaps terminates inside 200 Re when the interplanetary magnetic field remains very northward.
1996 Discovery of very high velocity earthward flows (2000 km/s) at 13 Re in association with magnetospheric substorms.
1998 Demonstration of the association of magnetotail flow bursts and auroral brightenings

CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY
1966 First routine calculation of the geomagnetic AE index after it's definition by Davis and Sugiura
1971 First comprehensive quantitative models of the magnetopause and bow shock position.
1975 Compiled magnetosphere magnetic field data base that has become the standard for magnetospheric modeling.
1980 First model of the magnetotail neutral sheet showing curvature that allows flux conservation in the lobes.
1990--present Advisor to the Interagency Consultive Group (IACG) and the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) regarding appropriate boundary models for the Satellite Situation Center for ISTP.
1996 Empirical model predicting the tail lobe field strength as a function of position, solar wind pressure and interplanetary magnetic field.

PUBLICATIONS --- Donald H. Fairfield
1. 1963 "Ionosphere Current Patterns in High Latitudes", D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 68, 3589. 
2. 1964 "Trapped Particles in a Distorted Dipole Field:, D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 69, 3919. 
3. 1966 "Transition Region Magnetic Field & Polar Magnetic Disturbances", D. H. Fairfield and L. Cahill, Jr., J. Geophys. Res., 71, 155. 
4. 1967 "Magnetic Field Measurements with the IMP-2 Satellite", D. Fairfield and N. Ness, J. Geophys. Res., 72, 2379. 
5. 1967 "The Ordered Magnetic Field of the Magnetosheath", D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 72, 5865. 
6. 1967 "Polar Magnetic Disturbances and the Interplanetary Magnetic Field", D. H. Fairfield, Space Research VIII,  107. 
7. 1968 "Hydromagnetic Disturbances of 3- to 15-Minute Period on the Magnetopause & Their Relation to Bow Shock Spikes", K. Anderson, J. Binsack and D. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 73, 2371. 
8. 1968 "Simultaneous Measurements on Three Satellites and the Observation of the Geomagnetic Tail at 1000 RE", D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 73, 6179. 
9. 1968 "Average Magnetic Field Configuration of the Outer Magnetosphere", D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 73, 7329. 
10. 1969 "Microscale Fluctuations in the Interplanetary Magnetic Field", L. F. Burlaga, K. W. Ogilvie and D. H. Fairfield, Astrophys. J., 155, L171. 
11. 1969 "Bow Shock Associated Waves Observed in the Far Upstream Interplanetary Medium", D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 74, 3541. 
12. 1969 "Spatial Variations of the Magnetosheath Magnetic Field", K. W. Behannon and D. H. Fairfield, Planet. Space Sci., 17, 1803.
13. 1970 "The Magnetic Field of the Magnetosphere and Tail", D. H. Fairfield, in "The Polar Ionosphere and Magnetospheric Processes", edited by Gunnar Skovli, Gordon and Breach, New York, 1-24. 
14. 1970 "The Configuration of the Geomagnetic Field", D. H. Fairfield, in Solar Terrestrial Physics/1970 Part III, edited by E. R. Dyer, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland 1-24. 
15. 1970 "Magnetic Field Fluctuations in the Earth's Magnetosheath", D. H. Fairfield and N. F. Ness, J. Geophys. Res., 75, 6050. 
16. 1970 "Configuration of the Geomagnetic Tail During Substorms", D. H. Fairfield and N. F. Ness, J. Geophys. Res., 75, 7032. 
17. 1971 "Average and Unusual Locations of the Earth's Magnetopause and Bow Shock", D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 76, 6700. 
18. 1971 "Relationship of Interplanetary Parameters and Occurrence of Magnetospheric Substorms", J. C. Foster, D.  H. Fairfield, K. W. Ogilvie and T. J. Rosenberg, J.  Geophys. Res., 76, 6971. 
19. 1972 "IMP 5 Magnetic Field Measurements in the High Latitude Outer Magnetosphere Near the Noon Meridian", D. H. Fairfield and N. F. Ness, J. Geophys. Res., 77, 611. 
20. 1972 "Magnetic Field Fluctuations During Substorms", D. H. Fairfield, Planet. Space Sci., 20, 1455. 
21. 1973 "Magnetic Field Signatures of Substorms on High Latitude Field Lines in the Nighttime Magnetosphere", D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 78, 1553. 
22. 1974 "Whistler Waves Observed Upstream from Collisionless Shocks", D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 79, 1368. 
23. 1974 "Interplanetary Sector Structure: 1970-1972", D. H. Fairfield and N. F. Ness, J. Geophys. Res., 79, 5089. 
24. 1974 "Cosmic Ray Anisotropies Observed Late in the Decay Phase of Solar Flare Events", F. R. Allum, R. A. R. 
Palmeira, K. G. McCracken, U.R. Rao, D. H. Fairfield, and L. J. Gleeson, Solar Physics, 38, 227 
25. 1975 "Magnetospheric Mapping with a Quantitative Geomagnetic Field Model", D. H. Fairfield, G. D. Mead, J. Geophys. Res., 80, 535. 
26. 1975 "A Quantitative Magnetospheric Model Derived from Spacecraft Magnetometer Data", Gilbert D. Mead and Donald H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 80, 523. 
27. 1975 "Standing Waves at Low Mach Number Laminar Bow Shocks", D. H. Fairfield and W. C. Feldman, J. Geophys. Res., 80, 515. 
28. 1975 "Cosmic Ray Intensity Variations During 0200-0700 UT, Aug. 5, 1972", D. Venkatesan, T. Mathews, L. J. 
Lanzerotti, D. H. Fairfield and C. O. Bostrom, J. Geophys. Res., 80, 1715. 
29. 1976 "Magnetic Fields of the Magnetosheath", D. H. Fairfield, Rev. Geophys. and Space Phys., 14, 117. 
30. 1976 "Correlated Observations of Several Auroral Substorms on February 17, 1971", E. W. Hones, Jr., S.-I. Akasofu, J. H. Wescott, S. J. Bame, D. H. Fairfield and C.-I. Meng, J. Geophys. Res., 81, 1725. 
31. 1976 "Bow Shock and Magnetosheath Waves at Mercury", D. H. Fairfield and K. W. Behannon, J. Geophys. Res., 81, 3897. 
32. 1976 "Waves in the Vicinity of the Magnetopause", D. H. Fairfield, Magnetospheric Particles and Fields, edited by B. M. McCormac, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland, 67-77. 
33. 1976 "A Summary of Observations of the Earth's Bow Shock", D. H. Fairfield, in Physics of Solar Planetary Environments, Vol. 2, edited by D. J. Williams, published by American Geophysical Union, 511. 
34. 1976 "Influence of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field on the Occurrence and Thickness of the Plasma Mantle", N. Sckopke, G. Paschmann, H. Rosenbauer and D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 81, 1687. 
35. 1977 "Electric and Magnetic Fields in the High Latitude Magnetosphere", D. H. Fairfield, Rev. Geophys. Space Phys., 15, 285. 
36. 1978 "IMP 6 Measurements in the Distant Polar Cusp During Substorms", D. H. Fairfield and E. W. Hones, Jr., J. Geophys. Res., 83, 4273. 
37. 1979 "Electromagnetic and Electrostatic Emissions at the Cusp- Magnetosphere Interface During Substorms", S. A. Curtis, C. S. Wu and D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 84, 898.
38. 1979 "On the Average Configuration of the Geomagnetic Tail", D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 84, 1950. 
39. 1979 "Structure of the Magnetopause: Observations and Implications for Reconnection", D. H. Fairfield, Space Sci. Rev., 23, 427. 
40. 1979 "Magnetic Fields in Flowing Magnetotail Plasma and Their Significance for Magnetic Reconnection", M. N. Caan, D. H. Fairfield and E. W. Hones, Jr., J. Geophys. Res., 84, 1971. 
41. 1979 "Global Aspects of the Earth's Magnetopause", D. H. Fairfield in Magnetospheric Boundary Layers, editor B. Battrick, ESA Scientific and Technical Publication ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, p. 5. 
42. 1980 "A Statistical Determination of the Shape and Position of the Geomagnetic Neutral Sheet", J. Geophys. Res., 85, 775. 
43. 1981 "Simultaneous Measurements of Magnetotail Dynamics by IMP Spacecraft, D. H. Fairfield, R. P. Lepping, E. W. Hones, Jr., S. J. Bame, and J. R. Asbridge, J. Geophys. Res,. 86, 1396. 
44. 1981 "Multiple Crossings of a Very Thin Plasma Sheet in the Earth's Magnetotail", D. H. Fairfield, E. W. Hones, Jr., and C.-I. Meng, J. Geophys. Res.. 86, 11189. 
45. 1982 "Observations Near the Magnetopause at the Onset of the July 29, 1977 Sudden Storm Commencement, K. Knott, D. Fairfield. A. Korth, and D. T. Young, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 5888. 
46. 1984 "The Inner Edge of the Plasma Sheet and the Diffuse Aurora", D. H. Fairfield and A. F. Vinas, J. Geophys. Res., 89, 841- 854. 
47. 1984 "Magnetotail Energy Storage and the Variability of the Magnetotail Current Sheet", D. H. Fairfield in Magnetic Reconnection in Space and Laboratory Plasmas, Geophysical Monograph 30 published by the American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C., p. 168-177. 
48. 1985 "Polar Rain: Solar Coronal Electrons in the Earth's Magnetosphere," D. H. Fairfield and J. D. Scudder, J. 
Geophys. Res., 90, 4055-4068. 
49. 1985 "Solar Wind Control of Magnetospheric Pressure," D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 90, 1201-1204. 
50. 1985 "Magnetotail Energy Storage and Release During the CDAW 6 Substorm Analysis Intervals, D. N. Baker, T. A. Fritz, R. L. McPherron, D. H. Fairfield, Y. Kamide, and W. Baumjohan, J. Geophys. Res., 90, 1205-1216. 
51. 1986 "Solar Wind Control of the Magnetotail," D. H. Fairfield, in Solar Wind Magnetosphere Coupling, edited by Y. Kamide and J. A. Slavin, Terra Scientific Publishing Co., Tokyo, 657- 670. 
52. 1986 "Time Variations of the Distant Magnetotail," D. H. Fairfield, Geophys. Res. Lett., 13, 80-83. 
53. 1986"The Magnetic Field of the Equatorial Magnetotail From 10 to 40 Re," D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 91, 4238-4244.
54. 1986 "Simultaneous Polar Cap and Magnetotail Observations of Intense Polar Rain," M. E. Greenspan, C.-I. Meng and D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 91, 11,123-11,132. 
55. 1987 "The Magnetic Field of the Equatorial Magnetotail: AMPTE/CCE Observations at R < 8.8 Re," D. H. Fairfield, M. H. Acuna, L. J. Zanetti and T. A. Potemra, J. Geophys. Res., 92, 7432-7442. 
56. 1987 "Structure of the Geomagnetic Tail," D. H. Fairfield, in Magnetotail Physics, edited by A. T. Y. Lui, Johns 
Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 23-33. 
57. 1988 "Multipoint measurements of magnetotail dynamics", D. H. Fairfield, Adv. Space Res., 8, (9)97--(9)108.
58. 1989 "Substorms, plasmoids, flux ropes, and magnetotail flux loss on March 25 1983: CDAW 8," D. H. Fairfield, D. N. Baker, J. D. Craven, R. C. Elphic, J. F. Fennell, L. A. Frank, I. G. Richardson, H. J. Singer, J. A. Slavin, B. T. Tsurutani, and R. D. Zwickl, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 15135--15152. 
59. 1989 "Three point magnetic field observations of substorms in the inner magnetotail," D. H. Fairfield, and L. J. 
Zanetti, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 3565--3578.. 
60. 1989 "CDAW 8 observations of plasmoid signatures in the geomagnetic tail: An assessment", J. A. Slavin, D. N. Baker, J. D. Craven, R. C. Elphic, D. H. Fairfield, L. A. Frank, A. B. Galvin, W. J. Hughes, R. H. 
Manka, D. G. Mitchell, I. G. Richardson, T. R. Sanders, D. J. Sibeck, E. J. Smith, and R. D. Zwickl, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 15,153--15,175.
61. 1989 "The magnetospheric response to 8--minute period strong-ampltude upstream pressure variations", D. G. Sibeck, W. Baumjohann, R. C. Elphic, D. H. Fairfield, J. F. Fennell, W. B. Gail, L. 
J. Lanzerotti, R. E. Lopez, H. Luehr, A. T. Y. Lui, C. G. Maclennan, R. W. McEntire, T. A. Potemra, T. J. Rosenberg, and K. Takahashi, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 2505--2519.
62. 1990 "The substorm event of 28 January 1983: A detailed global study," D. N. Baker, D. H. Fairfield, J. A. Slavin, I. G. Richardson, J. D. Craven, L. A. Frank, R. C. Elphic, H. J. Singer, C. J. Owen, and R. 
D. Zwickl, Planet. Space Sci., 38, 1495--1515.
63. 1990 "Upstream pressure variations associated with the bow shock and their effects on the magnetosphere, D. H. Fairfield, W. Baumjohann, G. Paschmann, H. Luhr, and D. G. Sibeck, J. Geophys. Res., 95, 3773--3786.
64. 1990 "Recent advances in magnetospheric substorm research," D. H. Fairfield, J. Atmospheric and Terr. Phys. 52, 1155--1167.
65. 1991 "An evaluation of the Tsyganenko magnetic field model" D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 1481--1494.
66. 1991 "Solar wind control of the size and shape of the magnetosphere," D. H. Fairfield, J. of Geomag. and Geoele., 43, 117--127.
67. 1991 "Modeling the growth phase of a substorm using the Tsyganenko model and multi-spacecraft observations: CDAW 9," T. I. Pulkkinen, D. N. Baker, D. H. Fairfield, R. J. Pellinen, J. S. Murphree, R. D. 
Elphinstone, R. L. McPherron, J. F. Fennell, R. E. Lopez, and T. Nagai. Geophys. Res. Lett., 18, 1963--1966.
68. 1991 "A non-linear dynamical analogue model of geomagnetic activity", A. J. Klimas, D. N. Baker, D. A. Roberts, D. H. Fairfield and J. Buchner, J. Geophys. Res., 97, 12,253--12,266.
69. 1992 "On the Structure of the distant magnetotail: ISEE 3," D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 97, 1403--1410.
70. 1992 "Advances in magnetospheric storm and substorm research: 
1989--1991" D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 97, 10865--10874.
71. 1993 "Solar wind control of the distant magnetotail: ISEE 3", D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 98, 21265--21276.
72. 1994 "A large magnetosphere magnetic field data base", D. H. Fairfield, N. A. Tsyganenko, A. V. Usmanov and M. V. Malkov, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 11,319--11,326.
73. 1994 "Plasma flow and magnetic field characteristics near the midtail neutral sheet", R. Nakamura, D. N. Baker, D. H. Fairfield, D. G. Mitchell, R. L. McPherron and E. W. Hones, Jr., J. Geophys. Res., 99, 23,591--23,601. 
74. 1994 "Magnetopause encounters in the magnetotail at distances of 80 Re" D. J. Williams, A. T. Y. Lui, R. W. McEntire, V. Angelopoulos, C. Jacquey, S. P. Christon, L. A. Frank, K. L. Ackerson, S. Kokubun, T. Yamamoto and D. H. Fairfield, Geophys. Res. Lett., 12, 1994
75. 1994 "Observations of plasmas associated with the magnetic signature of a plasmoid in the distant magnetotail" L. A. Frank, W. R. Paterson, K. L. Ackerson, S. Kokubun, T. Yamamoto, D. H. Fairfield, and R. L. Lepping, Geophys. Res. Lett., 21, 2967--2970.
76. 1994 "Observations of the shape and location of the magnetopause: A review" D. H. Fairfield, In AGU monograph 90, Physics of the Magnetopause, 53--60..
77. 1995 "Unusual locations of Earth's bow shock on September 24--25, 1987: Mach number effects", I. H. Cairns, D. H. Fairfield, R. R. Anderson, V. E. H. Carlton, K. I. Paularena, and A. J. Lazarus, J. 
Geophys. Res., 100, 47--62.
78. 1995 "Localized tearing modes in the magnetotail driven by curvature effects" A. K. Sundaram and D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res. 100, 3563--3572.
79. 1995 "Observations of plasmas and magnetic fields in Earth's distant magnetotail: Comparison with a global MHD model" L. A. Frank, M. Ashour-Abdalla, J. Berchem, J. Raeder, W. R. Paterson, S. Kokubun, T. Yamamoto, R. P. Lepping, F. V. Coroniti, D. H. Fairfield, and K. L. Ackerson., J. Geophys. Res., 100, 19,177--19,190.
80. 1995 "Cross-tail magnetic flux ropes as observed by the Geotail spacecraft" R. P. Lepping, D. H. Fairfield, J. Jones, L. A. Frank, W. R. Patterson, S. Kokubun and T. Yamamoto, Geophys. Res. Lett., 22, 1193.
81. 1996 "Mantle crossings at Geotail: Comparison with MHD model" S. Shodham, G. L. Siscoe, L. A. Frank, K. L. Ackerson, W. R. Paterson, D. Fairfield, S. Kokubun, and T. Yamamoto, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 153--159.
82. 1996, "Variability of the tail lobe field strength" D. H. Fairfield and J. Jones, J. Geophys. Res. 101, 7785--7791.
83. 1996, "Geotail observations of an unusual magnetotail under very northward IMF conditions" D. H. Fairfield, R. P. Lepping, L. A. Frank, K. L. Ackerson, W. R. Paterson, S. Kokubun, T. Yamamoto, K. Tsuruda, and M. Nakamura, J. Geomag. Geoelectr. 48, 473--487.
84. 1996, "The tearing instabilities driven by lower hybrid waves in the current sheet, A. K. Sundaram and D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 24919--24927.
85. 1997 "WIND, GEOTAIL, and GOES 9 observations of magnetic field dipolarization and bursty bulk flows in the near-tail" J. A. Slavin, D. H. Fairfield, R. P. Lepping, A. Szabo, M. J. Reiner, M. Kaiser, C. J. 
Owen, T. Phan, R. Lin, S. Kokubun, T. Mukai, T. Yamamoto, H. J. Singer, S. A. Romanov, J. Buechner, T. Iyemori, and G. Rostoker. Geophys. Res. Lett. , 24, 971--974.
86. 1997 "The Role of satellite measurements in the development of magnetospheric physics: A personal perspective" D. H. Fairfield, in "Discovery of the Magnetosphere" History of Geophysics Volume 7, S. 
Gilmore and J. Spreiter, editors, published by AGU.
87. 1997 "Observations of double discontinuities in the magnetotail", Y. C. Whang, D. Fairfield, E. J. Smith, R. P. Lepping, S. Kokubun and Y. Saito, Geophys. Res. Lett., 24, 3153--3156.
1997 "The stability of resistive MHD tearing and ballooning modes in the tail current sheet" J. Geophys. Res., In Press.
1998 "Geotail observations of Substorm onset in the inner magnetotail", D. H. Fairfield, T. Mukai, A. T. Y. Lui, C. A. Cattell, G. D. Reeves, T. Nagai, G. Rostoker, H. J. Singer, M. L. Kaiser, S. Kokubun, A. J. 
Lazarus, R. P. Lepping, M. Nakaruma, J. T. Steinberg, K. Tsuruda, D. J. Williams, and T. Yamamoto, J. Geophys. Res. 103, 103--117.
1998 "ISTP observations of plasmoid ejection: IMP 8 and Geotail" J. A. Slavin, D. H. Fairfield, M. M. Kuznetsova, C. J. Owen, R. P. Lepping, S. Taguchi, T. Mukai, Y. Saito, T. Yamamoto, S. Kokubun, A. T. Y. Lui, and 
G. D. Reeves", J. Geophys. Res., 103, 119--133.
1998 "The excitation of lower hybrid waves driven by gradient B effects in the current sheet", A. K. Sundaram, D. H. Fairfield and D. Vassiliadis, J. Geophys Res., 103, 4649--4656..
1998 "Double discontinuity: A compound structure of slow shock and rotational discontinuity" Y. C. Whang, J. Zhou, R. P. Lepping, A. Szabo, D. Fairfield, S. Kokubun, K. W. Ogilvie, and R. Fitzenreiter, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 6513--6520.
1998 "FAST-Geotail correlative studies of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling in the nightside magnetosphere, K. Sigsbee, C.A. Cattell, R. L. Lysak, C. W. Carlson, R. E. Ergun, J. P. McFadden, F. Mozer, R. C. Elphic, R. J. Strangeway, K. Tsuruda, T. Yamamoto, S. Kokubun, D. H. Fairfield, R. Pfaff, G. Parks, and M. Brittnacher, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, p2077.
1999 "Earthward Flow Bursts in the Inner Magnetotail and their Relation to Auroral Brightenings, AKR intensifications, Geosynchronous Particle Injections and Magnetic Activity" D. H. Fairfield, T. Mukai, T. Yamamoto, M. Brittnacher, G. K. Parks, G. D. Reeves, S. Kokubun, D. A. Gurnett, K. Hashimoto and H. Matsumoto, J. Geophys. 104, 355. 
1998 "Multipoint study of a substorm on Febrary 9, 1995" A. T. Y. Lui, D. J. Williams, R. W. McEntire, S.. Ohtani, L. J. Zanetti, W. A. Bristow, R. A. Greenwald, P. T. Newell, S. P. Christon, T. Mukai, K. Tsuruda, T. Yamamoto, S. Kokubun, H. Matsumoto, H. Kojima, T. Murata, D. H. Fairfield, R. P. Lepping, J. C. Samson, G. Rostoker, G. D. Revees, A. L. Rodger, and H. J. Singer, J. Geophys. Res., 103, p17,333.
1998 "Field-line resonances trigered by a northward IMF Turning" H. Laakso, D. H. Fairfield, C. T. Russell, J. H. Clemmons, H. J. Singer, B. L. Giles, R. P. Lepping, F. S. Mozer, R. F. Pfaff, K. Tsuruda, and J. R. 
Wygant, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, p2991.
1998 "Oscillations of magntospheric boundaries driven by IMF rotations" H. Laakso, D. H. Fairfield, M. R. Collier, H. Opgenoorth, T. -D. Phan, D. G. Sibeck, B. L. Giles, H. J. Singer, R. P. Lepping, R. P. Lin, F. S. 
Mozer, R. F. Pfaff, K. Tsuruda, and J. R. Wygant, Geophys. Res. Lett, 25, p3007.
1999 "Dual spacecraft observations of lobe magnetic field perturbations before, during and after plasmoid release, J. A. Slavin, M. Hesse, C. J. Owen, S. Taguchi, D. H. Fairfield, R. P. Lepping, S. Kokubun, T. Mukai, A. T. Y. Lui, R. R. Anderson, H. Matsumoto, and P. R. Sutcliffe, Geophys. Res. Lett., 19, p2897.
2000 "Geotail observations of the Kelvin Helmholz instability at the equatorial magnetotail boundary for parallel northward fields, D. H. Fairfield, A. Otto, T. Mukai, S. Kokubun, R. P. Lepping, J. T. 
Steinberg, A. J. Lazarus, and T. Yamamoto, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 21,159, 2000.
2000 "Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at the magnetotail boundary: MHD simulation and comparison with Geotail Observations" A. Otto and D. H. Fairfield, J. Geophys. Res. In Press.
2000 "Plasmoid Ejection and Auroral Brightenings", A. Ieda, D. H. Fairfield, T. Mukai, Y. Saito, S. Kokubun, K. Liou, C. --I. Meng, G. K. Parks, and M. J. Brittnacher", J. Geophys. Res., In Press.
2000 "The Location of low Mach number bow shocks at Earth, D. H. Fairfield, M. D. Desch, A. Szabo, I. H. Cairns, A. J. Lazarus, M. R. Aellig.,submitted to J. Geophys. Res.

D. H. Fairfield --- major discoveries over the last ten years
POLAR RAIN --- An intense field-aligned component of the solar wind originating in the solar corona was shown to be the source of electrons precipitating onto the polar cap. The fact that these particles follow field lines from the sun and enter the magnetotail is a direct demonstration of the openness of magnetotail field lines. Such particles then become a tool for studying the changing configuration of the magnetotail. [JGR p 4055, 1985]
CLOSED MAGNETOTAIL --- When the interplanetary magnetic field is directed very northward for a number of hours the magnetotail assumes a radically different configuration with more field lines closing near the earth and fewer extending to the distant tail. In the unlikely case of an exactly northward field for a number of hours the magnetotail would probably be completely closed and not extend to the great distances as it normally does. [JGR p 21265, 1993]
FORESHOCK PERTURBATIONS --- Interplanetary magnetic field direction changes cause adjustments in the earth's foreshock which create density enhancements that subsequently impinge on the magnetosphere and produce field compressions in the outer magnetosphere and probably in the high latitudes ionosphere. [ JGR p3773, 1990]