Effects of ionospheric O{sup +} on the magnetopause boundary wave activity

Journal Article · Tue Jan 04 04:00:00 EST 2011 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3544326· OSTI ID:21513134

Merkin, V G ^[1]

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1. Center for Space Physics, Boston University, MA (United States)

In this paper we use a multi-fluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model to explore effects of ionospheric O{sup +} ions on the development of the Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability at the flanks of the earth's magnetopause. The model used is the multi-fluid version of the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry (LFM) global magnetospheric MHD simulation code. We set up a controlled numerical experiment whereby the solar wind speed is slowly increased resulting in building up the velocity shear across the magnetopause. As this happens, the KH waves at the magnetopause flanks increase their intensity. Along with the solar wind velocity ramp-up, we introduce O{sup +} fluid in the plasma sheet and watch its influence on the development of the KH instability. We find that the simulation with the O{sup +} ions present at the magnetopause shows a significantly weaker KH wave activity on both edges of the low-latitude boundary layer than the simulation without oxygen but identical otherwise.

• OSTI ID: 21513134
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1320; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CHARGED PARTICLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONOSPHERE
IONS
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MECHANICS
OXYGEN IONS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA SHEET
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS
VELOCITY