Multiple electron species dynamics parallel to a high-latitude field line

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i011p01873· OSTI ID:5514909

Mitchell, Jr, H G; Ganguli, S B ^[1]; Palmadesso, P J ^[2]

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1. Science Applications International Corp., McLean, VA (USA)
2. Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)

The parallel dynamics of the plasma along high-latitude field lines is a critical feature of the ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling problem. The authors have created a time-dependent, large scale simulation of these dynamics in a region from the ionosphere well into the magnetosphere. Including multiple electron species has allowed us to dynamically simulate the diode-like response of the field-line plasma to the parallel currents coupling the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Downward (return) currents flow with small resistance, while upward currents produce kilovolt-sized potential drops along the field due to the effect of the converging magnetic field on the high energy magnetospheric electrons.

• OSTI ID: 5514909
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 17:11; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CURRENTS
DYNAMICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
INTERACTIONS
IONOSPHERE
LATITUDE EFFECT
LEPTONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
TIME DEPENDENCE
VARIATIONS