Magnetic Field Pile-up Research Articles

MHD model of magnetosheath flow: comparison with AMPTE/IRM observations on 24 October, 1985

Abstract. We compare numerical results obtained from a steady-state MHD model of solar wind flow past the terrestrial magnetosphere with documented observations made by the AMPTE/IRM spacecraft on 24 October, 1985, during an inbound crossing of the magnetosheath. Observations indicate that steady conditions prevailed during this about 4 hour-long crossing. The magnetic shear at spacecraft entry into the magnetosphere was 15°. A steady density decrease and a concomitant magnetic field pile-up were observed during the 40 min interval just preceding the magnetopause crossing. In this plasma depletion layer (1) the plasma beta dropped to values below unity; (2) the flow speed tangential to the magnetopause was enhanced; and (3) the local magnetic field and velocity vectors became increasingly more orthogonal to each other as the magnetopause was approached (Phan et al., 1994). We model parameter variations along a spacecraft orbit approximating that of AMPTE/IRM, which was at slightly southern GSE latitudes and about 1.5 h post-noon Local Time. We model the magnetopause as a tangential discontinuity, as suggested by the observations, and take as input solar wind parameters those measured by AMPTE/IRM just prior to its bow shock crossing. We find that computed field and plasma profiles across the magnetosheath and plasma depletion layer match all observations closely. Theoretical predictions on stagnation line flow near this low-shear magnetopause are confirmed by the experimental findings. Our theory does not give, and the data on this pass do not show, any localized density enhancements in the inner magnetosheath region just outside the plasma depletion layer.Key words. Steady-state magnetosheath · Plasma depletion layer · Stagnation line flow

Magnetic field near Venus: A comparison between Pioneer Venus Orbiter magnetic field observations and an MHD simulation

Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) measurements revealed the shape and the changing location of the Venus bow shock with solar cycle and provided a detailed picture of the magnetic field pileup in the dayside magnetosheath. Nevertheless, the reason for the increase of the terminator shock position to the observed distances has evaded our understanding, and the “magnetic barrier” region has been studied primarily by comparisons with gasdynamic models due to the difficulty of using more sophisticated treatments. In this study we investigate the extent to which a three‐dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of the Venus‐solar wind interaction, with and without “mass loading” by photoionization of the atomic oxygen upper atmosphere, can reproduce some of the basic features of the dayside magnetic field observed on PVO. The ideal MHD model uses a conducting sphere to represent the basic Venus ionospheric obstacle to the solar wind flow. We adopt the viewpoint that during solar maximum, a conducting obstacle with oxygen mass loading is appropriate, while a no‐mass loading case is a good first approximation to the solar minimum situation. The MHD simulations are found to give a realistic picture of both the shape of the bow shock and its observed elliptical cross section at the terminator. The introduction of the oxygen mass loading moves the shock position to that observed at solar maximum. The magnetic field strength on the dayside has a dependence on solar zenith angle similar to that found in statistical analyses of the PVO data, although the field is stronger than that measured. The mass loading creates a layer near the planet where the magnetic pressure is replaced with the thermal pressure much like observed. Our studies also raise the question of the role of nightside flow vortices in the formation of the effective obstacle boundary. Overall, our results illustrate that many features seen in the MHD model are consistent with the previously reported observations of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter.

MHD model of magnetosheath flow: comparison with AMPTE/IRM observations on 24 October, 1985

We compare numerical results obtained from a steady-state MHD model of solar wind flow past the terrestrial magnetosphere with documented observations made by the AMPTE/IRM spacecraft on 24 October, 1985, during an inbound crossing of the magnetosheath. Observations indicate that steady conditions prevailed during this about 4 hour-long crossing. The magnetic shear at spacecraft entry into the magnetosphere was 15°. A steady density decrease and a concomitant magnetic field pile-up were observed during the 40 min interval just preceding the magnetopause crossing. In this plasma depletion layer (1) the plasma beta dropped to values below unity; (2) the flow speed tangential to the magnetopause was enhanced; and (3) the local magnetic field and velocity vectors became increasingly more orthogonal to each other as the magnetopause was approached (Phan et al., 1994). We model parameter variations along a spacecraft orbit approximating that of AMPTE/IRM, which was at slightly southern GSE latitudes and about 1.5 h post-noon Local Time. We model the magnetopause as a tangential discontinuity, as suggested by the observations, and take as input solar wind parameters those measured by AMPTE/IRM just prior to its bow shock crossing. We find that computed field and plasma profiles across the magnetosheath and plasma depletion layer match all observations closely. Theoretical predictions on stagnation line flow near this low-shear magnetopause are confirmed by the experimental findings. Our theory does not give, and the data on this pass do not show, any localized density enhancements in the inner magnetosheath region just outside the plasma depletion layer.Key words. Steady-state magnetosheath · Plasma depletion layer · Stagnation line flow

A comparison of predictions of an MHD model solar wind flow past the magnetopause with AMPTE/IRM observations on 24 October, 1985

We compare numerical results of a steady-state MHD model for solar wind flow past the terrestrial magnetosphere with documented observations made by the AMPTE/IRM spacecraft on 24 October, 1985, during an inbound crossing of the magnetosheath. Observations indicate that steady conditions prevail during this ∼ 4 hour-long crossing. The magnetic shear at entry into the magnetosphere was 15 deg. A steady density decrease and a concomitant magnetic field pile-up were observed during the ∼ 40 min interval just preceding the magnetopause crossing. In this so-called plasma depletion layer (i) the plasma beta fell generally below unity; (ii) the flow speed tangential to the magnetopause was enhanced; and (iii) the local magnetic field and velocity vectors became increasingly more orthogonal to each other as the magnetopause was approached (Phan et al., 1994). We model parameter variations along a orbit similar to the AMPTE/IRM trajectory, which was at slightly southerly latitudes and ∼ 1.5 hours post-noon local time (GSE). In our model we consider the magnetopause to be a tangential discontinuity, as suggested by the observations, and take as input solar wind parameters those measured by AMPTE/IRM just prior to its bow shock crossing. We find that theoretical predictions match all observations closely.

The subsolar magnetosheath and magnetopause for high solar wind ram pressure: WIND observations

On a rapid inward pass through the subsolar magnetosheath (MSH) and magnetopause (MP), the WIND spacecraft initially encountered a moderately‐compressed low‐magnetic shear MP (at a radial distance of 8.6 RE), followed by multiple crossings of a high‐shear MP (at 8.2 RE). The large shear resulted from a southward turning of the external MSH field. Strong magnetic field pile‐up, a plasma depletion layer (PDL), and plasma flow acceleration and rotation to become more perpendicular to the local magnetic field were observed in the MSH on approach to the low‐shear MP. At the high‐shear MP, magnetic reconnection flows were detected, and there are some indications that plasma depletion effects were weak or absent in the adjacent MSH. We attribute the changes in the MP and MSH properties to the sudden rotation of the MSH field direction. In essence, the structure of the MP regions under the unusually high solar wind ram pressure condition in this case does not seem to be qualitatively different from that observed under more typical (less compressed) conditions. Also similar to previous observations, the mirror mode is marginally unstable in the MSH proper, but is stable in the PDL. In this region, the proton temperature anisotropy is inversely correlated with βp∥. Finally, the electron distributions are observed to be anisotropic (Te⟂/Te∥ ∼1.3) throughout the entire MSH.

The Magnetic Field Structure of the Cometary Plasma Environment

AbstractThe plasma surrounding a comet has the interplanetary magnetic field frozen in. The geometric interpretation of this property is considered. The frozen-in character of the magnetic field leads to the draping of magnetic field lines around the inner coma, where, by exclusion of the inner purely cometary ionosphere, a magnetic cavity is formed inside a region of magnetic field pile-up. The consequences of these physical processes can nicely be diagnosed and tested by interplanetary tangential discontinuities serving as tracers of the magnetoplasma flow. The topology of the magnetic field around the cavity and the shape of the ionopause, as well as the formation of the magnetic tail, are discussed. Particularly in the outer regions, the magnetic field is disturbed by strong magnetic turbulence. This turbulence plays a role in accelerating cometary and also solar wind ions to high energies.