The population of the magnetosphere by solar winds ions when the interplanetary magnetic field is northward

Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/94GL01427· OSTI ID:57018

Richard, R L; Walker, R J; Ashour-Abdalla, M ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

The authors have examined some possible entry mechanisms of solar wind ions into the magnetosphere by calculating the trajectories of thousands of non-interacting ions in the magnetic and electric fields from a three dimensional global magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of the magnetosphere and the magnetosheath, under northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. Particles, launched in the solar wind, entered the magnetosphere and formed the low latitude boundary layer (LLBL), plasma sheet and a region of trapped particles near the Earth. The densities and temperatures they obtained in these regions were realistic, with the exception of trapped particle densities. The dominant entry mechanism was convection into the magnetosphere on reconnecting field lines. 18 refs., 6 figs.

• OSTI ID: 57018
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 21; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
COUPLING
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
INJECTION
IONS
SOLAR WIND