Plasma flow in the magnetosphere under the influence of large scale electric field

[摘要] The plasma flow is obtained by setting up a mathematical model, using the most appropriate geomagnetic field model and adopting the idea of equivalent potential in the magnetosphere The field model consists of four components: 1) Dipole main field; 2) Dayside magnetosphere boundary current; 3) Quiet day ring current; and 4) Infinite neutral current sheet suggested by Mead. The driving mechanisms are due to co-rotation with the Earth, the gradient drift, and gross electric field drift. The drift paths for thermal plasma and higher energy particles are presented. Some geophysical phenomena associated with the flow pattern, such as the development of asymmetric ring current, the formation of plasmapause and its characteristics, are discussed.

[发布机构] Rice University