Entry of solar-wind ions into the wake of a small body with a magnetic anomaly: A global Vlasov simulation

Abstract

The interaction between a plasma flow and a small dielectric body with a weak intrinsic global magnetic field is studied by means of a five-dimensional full electromagnetic Vlasov simulation with two configuration spaces and three velocity spaces. In the present study, entry processes of ions into the nightside wake tail are examined. The simulation result shows that the bow shock and the magnetopause are formed on the dayside. However, most of solar-wind ions are reflected at the dayside magnetopause and are picked up by the interplanetary magnetic field. Then, a small part of the reflected ions are taken into the deep wake tail near the body by the E×B cycloid motion.