2.5‐D Local Hybrid Simulations of Hot Flow Anomalies Under Various Magnetic Field Geometries

Abstract

AbstractHot flow anomalies are ion kinetic phenomena that play an important role in geoeffects and particle acceleration. They form due to the currents driven by demagnetized foreshock ions around a tangential discontinuity (TD). To understand the profile of such currents around a TD with foreshock ions on both sides, we use 2.5‐D local hybrid simulations of TDs, interacting with a planar shock with various shock geometries. We find that the electric field direction relative to the TD plane provides information about how the foreshock ion‐driven currents affect the magnetic field around the TD. For TDs embedded in the quasi‐parallel shock on both sides, the foreshock ions from one side of TD can cross it determining the current profile on the other side. In contrast, for TDs embedded in the quasi‐perpendicular shock, sheath‐leaked ions enter the TD and determine the current profile. We find that the foreshock ultra‐low frequency waves can periodically modulate how foreshock ions interact with the TD and thus the current profile. Studying the effects of various magnetic field configurations allows us to build a more comprehensive model of hot flow anomalie formation.