Magnetohydrodynamic model of the interaction of the solar wind with the Jovian magnetosphere and a magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the interaction of the solar wind with the out flowing plasma from a comet. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6120197

Walker, R J

A three-dimensional code for a rapidly rotating magnetosphere in which the MHD equations and the Maxwell equations were solved by using the two step Lax Endroff scheme, was developed. Preliminary results were presented at the Fall AGU meeting in San Francisco. The basic simulation model to study the solar wind interactions was adapted to other bodies in addition to Jupiter. Because of the recent comet flybys, a comet was chosen as the first model. The aim was to model the formation of the contact surface and the plasma tail. Later, work was begun on a three-dimensional model which would include the effects of mass loading. This model was designed to study the weak cometary bow shocks observed by the probes to comets Halley and Giacobini-Zinner. The model was successful in reproducing the position and shape of the bow shock which was determined by using observations from the Suisei spacecraft.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6120197
• Report Number(s): N-87-26820; NASA-CR-181114; NAS-1.26:181114
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
640107 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMETS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
DATA
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INFORMATION
JUPITER PLANET
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL DATA
PLANETS
PLASMA
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
THEORETICAL DATA
TIME DEPENDENCE