Global Hybrid Simulation of Magnetic Reconnection in the Magnetosheath

A three-dimensional (3-D) global hybrid simulation is carried out for the generation and structure of magnetic reconnection in the magnetosheath due to interaction of an interplanetary Tangential Discontinuity (TD) with the bow shock and magnetosphere. Runs are performed for solar wind TDs possessing different initial half-widths. As the TD propagates through the bow shock toward the magnetopause, it is greatly narrowed by a two-step compression processes, a "shock compression' followed by a subsequent ``convective compression'. In cases with a relatively thin solar wind TD, 3-D patchy reconnection is initiated in the transmitted TD, forming magnetosheath flux ropes. Multiple components of ion particles are present in the velocity distribution in the magnetosheath merging, accompanied by ion heating. For cases with a relatively wide initial TD, a dominant single X-line appears in the subsolar magnetosheath after the transmitted TD is narrowed. A shock analysis is performed for the detailed structure of magnetic reconnection in the magnetosheath. Rotational Discontinuity (RD)/Time-Dependent Intermediate Shock (TDIS) are found to dominate the reconnection layer, which and some weak slow shocks are responsible for the ion heating and acceleration.      

Plasma flow variations and energetic protons upstream of the earth’s bow shock: A statistical study

Foreshock is a special region located upstream of the Earth’s bow shock characterized by the presence of various plasma waves and fluctuations caused by the interaction of the solar wind plasma with particles reflected from the bow shock or escaping from the magnetosphere. On the other hand, foreshock fluctuations may modify the bow shock structure and, being carried through the magnetosheath, influence the magnetopause. During the years 1995–2000, the INTERBALL-1 satellite made over 10,000 hours of plasma and energetic particles measurements in the solar wind upstream of the Earth’s bow shock. We have sorted intervals according to the level of solar wind ion flux fluctuations and/or according to the flux of back-streaming energetic protons. An analysis of connection between a level of ion flux fluctuations and fluxes of high-energy protons and their relation to the IMF orientation is presented.     

Magnetic Field Fluctuations in the Solar Wind, Foreshock and Magnetosheath： Cluster Data Analysis

46 magnetosheath crossing events from the two years (2001.2-2003.1) of Cluster magnetic field measurements are identified and used to investigate the characters of the magnetic field fluctuations in the regions of undisturbed solar wind, foreshock, magnetosheath. The preliminary results indicate the properties of the plasma turbulence in the magnetosheath are strongly controlled by IMF orientation with respect to the bow shock normal. The amplitude of the magnetic field magnitude and direction variations behind quasi-parallel bow shock are larger than those behind quasi-perpendicular bow shock. Almost purely compressional waves are found in quasi-perpendicular magnetosheath.     

Small-scale deformation of the bow shock

The prediction of the bow shock location is a proof of our understanding of the processes governing the solar wind – magnetosphere interaction. However, the models describing the bow shock location as a function of upstream parameters are based on a statistical processing of bow shock crossings observed by a single spacecraft. Such crossings locate the bow shock in motion, i.e., in a non-equilibrium state and this fact can be a source of significant errors. We have carefully analyzed a long interval of simultaneous observations of the bow shock and magnetopause and another interval of bow shock observations at two well-separated points. Our results suggest that often a small-scale deformation of the bow shock front due to magnetosheath fluctuations is the most appropriate interpretation of observations. Since the low-frequency magnetosheath variations exhibit largest amplitudes, a simultaneous bow shock displacement over a distance of 10–15 R_E can be observed. We suggest that bow shock models can be probably improved if the tilt angle would be implemented as a parameter influencing the bow shock location in high latitudes.     

Bow shock: Power aspects

It is clear that the primary energy source for magnetospheric processes is the solar wind, but the process of energy transfer from the solar wind into the magnetosphere, or rather, to convecting magnetospheric plasma, appears to be rather complicated. Bow shock is a powerful transformer of the solar wind kinetic energy into the gas dynamic and electromagnetic energy. A jump of the magnetic field tangential component at front crossing means that the front carries an electric current. The solar wind kinetic energy partly transforms to gas kinetic and electromagnetic energy during its passage through the bow shock front. The transition layer (magnetosheath) can use part of this energy for accelerating of plasma, but can conversely spend part its kinetic energy on the electric power generation, which afterwards may be used by the magnetosphere. Thereby, transition layer can be both consumer (sink) and generator (source) of electric power depending upon special conditions. The direction of the current behind the bow shock front depends on the sign of the IMF Bz-component. It is this electric current which sets convection of plasma in motion.     

The structure of hot flow anomalies in the magnetosheath

The interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetosphere creates a population of backstreaming ions. When a tangential discontinuity contacts the bow shock, these ions can be focused to the discontinuity region and create so-called Hot Flow Anomalies (HFAs) - diamagnetic cavities filled with hot, tenuous, and deflected plasma population. These cavities are swept downstream and can be observed in the magnetosheath. We have analyzed INTERBALL-1 and MAGION-4 observations of magnetosheath HFAs with attention to their internal structure. We have found that HFAs often consist of two parts separated by an density enhancement. The particle behaviour can differ in these two parts. We demonstrate this peculiarity and discuss its possible origin.     

Dayside reconnection during IMF northward: A possible foreshock effect

The northward and southward orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is usually considered as providing the external boundary conditions in the solar wind interaction with the Earth's magnetopause but it is the magnetic field in the magnetosheath that interacts with the Earth's magnetic field. In this paper, we consider the possibility that the wave activity in the foreshock region may affect the magnetic field orientation in the magnetosheath with time scales that might be geomagnetically effective. If magnetosheath magnetic field becomes disturbed on plasma streamlines which are connected to the quasi-parallel bow shock and foreshock, the magnetic field orientation on the inner magnetosheath may differ significantly from the undisturbed IMF. We present a model of dayside reconnection which may occur when the IMF northward and illustrate its effects on the erosion of the magnetopause.     

膨胀磁场和太阳风粒子相互作用三维数值模拟

采用三维模型,使用混合网格质点法HPIC(Hybrid Particle-in-Cell)对膨胀的磁场和太阳风相互作用过程进行数值模拟.研究了线圈产生的偶极子磁场在注入等离子体后和太阳风粒子的相互作用过程,并对以不同速度入射的等离子体引起的太阳风粒子的变化和磁场变化进行了比较.研究结果表明,偶极子磁场和太阳风作用时会产生弓形激波,此时磁压等于太阳风粒子的动压,当向线圈产生的偶极子磁场中注入高能等离子体时引起磁场膨胀,膨胀的磁场将会排斥太阳风粒子向外运动,从而引起弓形激波的变化,增大与太阳风相互作用的面积,并且粒子入射速度越大,磁场膨胀越明显,与太阳风相互作用愈强.      

弓激波模型的对比

使用Cluster卫星的弓激波穿越数据,比较了Peredo弓激波模型、Merka弓激波模型、Chao弓激波模型和Lu弓激波模型在极端太阳风条件、偶极倾角较大和平静太阳风条件下的预测精度.结果表明:Peredo模型在极端太阳风条件和平静太阳风条件下的预测误差均较大;Merka模型在极端太阳风条件下的预测误差较大;Chao模型可以较为准确地描述平静太阳风条件下的弓激波位型,但不能准确描述偶极倾角较大时的弓激波位型;Lu模型可以同时准确描述极端太阳风条件和平静太阳风条件下的弓激波位型.      

行星际起伏向磁层顶的输运

时间尺度为分钟数量级的太阳风速度和行星际磁场大幅度扰动实际上始终存在于行星际空间的。这些扰动一直传输到紧贴磁层边界面外侧的区域。它们在磁鞘等离子体和磁层顶的相互作用过程中可能起很重要的作用。行星际起伏中的磁场分量在通过地球弓激波时首先经历一次跳跃,然后一部分扰动被带到磁层边界面处。在边界面附近磁场扰动幅度被大大地放大了。弓激波上游的太阳风条件控制了放大因子。本文所作的数值模拟研究结果表明,如果上游有大幅度的扰动,在边界面附近就有大幅度的Alfven起伏的磁场分量。当上游磁场接近垂直于日地联线时,放大因子变得相当大,而且放大因子随上游的等离子体β值和/或Alfven马赫数的增加而增加。上游各向异性对放大因子的影响不大。在磁层边界附近存在大幅度起伏表明这里不存在稳定的片流。      

The response of the Hermean magnetosphere to the interplanetary magnetic field

The interaction between the solar wind and Mercury is anticipated to be unique because of Mercury’s relatively weak intrinsic magnetic field and tenuous neutral exosphere. In this paper the role of the IMF in determining the structure of the Hermean magnetosphere is studied using a new self-consistent three-dimensional quasi-neutral hybrid model. A comparison between a pure northward and southward IMF shows that the general morphology of the magnetic field, the position and shape of the bow shock and the magnetopause as well as the density and velocity of the solar wind in the magnetosheath and in the magnetosphere are quite similar in these two IMF situations. A Parker spiral IMF case, instead, produces a magnetosphere with a substantial north–south asymmetric plasma and magnetic field configuration. In general, this study illustrates quantitatively the role of IMF when the solar wind interacts with a weakly magnetised planetary body.     

Evidence for mass-loading of the Venus magnetosheath

The observed magnetic field configuration in the Venus magnetosheath contains information about the solar wind mass-loading processes occurring as a result of the extension of the neutral atmosphere into the magnetosheath. In this paper, magnetic field signatures of various mass-loading processes are discussed and experimental results from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter magnetometer experiment are examined for evidence of these signatures. The data suggest that the ?$\text{V}$X$\text{B}$ acceleration process, stochastic pickup of ionospheric ions, and $\text{J}$X$\text{B}$ force “scavenging” at the ionopause all occur at various times.     

A stationary bow shock model for plasmas: The spherical blunt obstacle problem

We present an analytic model of a stationary bow shock which describes the interaction between a supermagnetosonic ambient wind and an obstacle with spherical-like frontal shape. We develop expressions for the bow shock’s geometry and the physical properties of the plasma sheath as functions of the upstream conditions. The solution is limited to magnetic fields parallel to the upstream velocity. The model allows to use any value of the upstream alfvenic and sonic Mach numbers and the polytropic index (γ$\gamma$), pointing out the influence of γ$\gamma$ for the magnetosheath compression and the bow shock shape. When both Mach numbers are small, the upstream magnetic field intensity affects also the bow shock shape. We compare our results with other models finding important consistencies. We also compare our results with in-situ data, we fund a reasonable qualitative agreement; however, it seems that our model underestimates the magnetosheath size.     

太阳风状态参数的变化对地球磁鞘中磁场起伏特性的影响

本文利用MHD激波跳跃条件的精确解,具体讨论了行星际背景太阳风状态参数Alfvén马赫数M₁、等离子体β₁参数和磁场角θ₁的变化对地球磁鞘区中磁场起伏特性及其分布的影响.主要结果是:马赫数M₁的变化主要控制磁场起伏特性:放大倍数、相对起伏和各向异性程度的水准高低.磁场角θ₁的变化控制磁场起伏的空间分布特性.等离子体β₁参数的变化,不引起磁场起伏特性的明显变化(对于实际经常发生的情况M₁ 8而言).M₁、θ₁是强控制参数,而β₁是弱控制参数;磁鞘区磁场起伏对太阳风状态参数的变化响应呈现明显的晨-昏不对称性(行星际磁场位于黄道面时),响应主要发生在晨侧.晨侧的磁场起伏(或湍动)相当活跃,而昏侧相当稳定;磁鞘中不同地点磁场起伏特性对太阳风状态参数M₁、β₁的变化响应有大致相同的形式,而对其磁场角度θ₁的变化却有迥然不同的形式.      

Limitations of mass-loading models

The mass-loading concept is discussed in relation to the dynamics of magnetoplasma streaming through rarefied background gas. Changes in energy and momentum flux (generally losses) can outweigh the increases in mass flux. Suprathermal ion components cannot be simply described in fluid terms: as shown by the probes to comet Halley, the main cometary ions are depleted by interaction with the background gas faster than they are scattered and thermalised by plasma turbulence. MHD instabilities tend to isotropize pitch angles but do not thermalise the ions, while wave steepening into a bow shock occurs outside positions expected from mass-loading. In the strongly-loaded subsonic region, charge exchange of suprathermal ions causes energy losses that can be more significant than further increases of mass. Non-parallel pick-up of new implanted ions, large gyroradii and finite spatial scales also limit the validity of fluid models.     

Rapid and Asymmetric Response of the Earth's Bow Shock:Multipoint Observations

We analyze observations of three bow shock crossings which occurred during 2007, using upstream data from STEREO A/B, ACE and WIND, combined with multi-point THEMIS and Cluster data, and TC-1 data located near noon. During the crossing of 7 May 2007, we find that following a rapid reduction in solar wind ram pressure and subsequent pressure pulse seen by ACE and WIND upstream, the bow shock responds asymmetrically from dawn to dusk. Cluster data on the dawn-side suggest the bow shock is significantly flared and responds rapidly to the pulse arrival, while TC-1 at noon, and THEMIS on the dusk-side, are well matched to the model bow shock, but show a delayed response. The crossings observed on 21 May and 2 June show contrasting response matching the model boundary for northward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF). The IMF and solar wind plasma data suggest that the bow shock crossing at dawn-dusk side and subsolar point were mainly caused by large and smaller scale features of the solar wind ram pressure rise rather than the influence of IMF.      

Cometary magnetospheres: a tutorial

The nucleus of an active comet, such as comet Halley near its perihelion, produces large quantities of gas and dust. The resulting cometary atmosphere, or coma, extends more than a million kilometers into space, where it interacts with the solar wind. An “induced” cometary magnetosphere is a consequence of this interaction. Cometary ion pick-up and mass loading of the solar wind starts to take place at very large cometocentric distances. Eventually this mass loading leads to the formation of a weak cometary bow shock. Even closer to the nucleus, collisional processes, such as ion-neutral chemistry, become important. Other features of the magnetosphere of an active comet include a magnetic barrier, a magnetotail, and a diamagnetic cavity near the nucleus. X-ray emission from comets is produced by the interaction of the solar wind with cometary neutrals and this topic is also discussed. A broad review of the cometary magnetosphere will be given in this paper.     

Interplanetary magnetic field control of the Venus magnetosheathfield and bow shock location

Six Venus years of Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) data are analyzed in a coordinate system which isolates magnetic effects. The field draping pattern features two lobes easily identifiable even in the near planet region. The magnetosheath magnetic magnitude has a hemispherical asymmetry controlled by the IMF orientation in a manner suggesting preferential ion pickup in one hemisphere. This result complements recent findings that the bow shock position is responsive to IMF direction. Examination of the ionopause position to evaluate ionospheric effects on the overall asymmetry of the Venus-solar wind interaction produces negative but not conclusive results.     

Martian obstacle and bow shock: origins of boundaries anisotropy

The origin of the anisotropy in the shape of the Martian obstacle and bow shock is analyzed using Mars Global Surveyor observations. The influence of MHD or ion pick-up effects on Martian obstacle position was to be small found, however, localized Martian crustal magnetization increases the thickness of the downstream planetary magnetotail by 500–1000 km in agreement with earlier Phobos 2 observations. A new analytical model is presented for Martian obstacle shape variation for different solar wind ram pressure. Elongation of the Martian BS cross-section in the direction perpendicular to IMF was confirmed while the shift of this cross section in the +Y direction of Martian interplanetary medium reference frame was discovered. The shift of BS cross section in the direction of interplanetary electric field was not revealed thus not conforming the idea that mass-loading play some role in BS control.     

MHD interaction of pulsar wind nebulae with SNRs and with the ISM

In the late 1960s the discovery of the Crab pulsar in its associated supernova remnant, launched a new field in supernova remnant research: the study of pulsar-driven or plerionic supernova remnants. In these type of remnants, the relativistic wind emitted by the pulsar, blows a pulsar wind nebula into the interior of its supernova remnant. Now, more then forty years after the discovery of the Crab pulsar, there are more then fifty plerionic supernova remnants known, due to the ever-increasing capacity of observational facilities. These observational studies reveal a Zoo of complex morphologies over a wide range of frequencies, indicating the significance of the interaction between a pulsar wind nebula with its surrounding supernova remnant. A pulsar which gained a kick velocity at birth, will ultimately break outside of its remnant, after which the pulsar wind nebula interacts directly with the interstellar medium. In general these pulsar wind nebulae are bounded by a bow shock, due to the supersonic motion of the pulsar. There are a few examples known of these pulsar-powered bow shocks, a number which is slowly increasing.I will review our current understanding of the different evolutionary stages of a pulsar wind nebula as it is interacting with its associated supernova remnant. Therefore, I will discuss both analytical and more recent numerical (M)HD models. The four main stages of a pulsar wind nebula are: the supersonic expansion stage, the reverse shock interaction stage, the subsonic expansion stage and ultimately the stage when the head of the bubble is bounded by a bow shock, due to the supersonic motion of the pulsar. Ultimately this pulsar wind nebula bow shock will break through its associated remnant, after which the pulsar-powered bow shock will interact directly with the interstellar medium. I will discuss recent numerical models from these type of pulsar wind nebulae and their morphology.