Modeling of solar wind transport into the terrestrial magnetosphere

• In this study we have combined a 2D viscous/resistive reconnection model of the plasma flow through the magnetopause boundary, with solutions for the outer magnetosheath flow based on the same methodology as by Petschek in his classical model treating fast magnetic reconnection. The objective is to put the 2D model into the context of a well established reconnection model, and also to investigate the influence of the reconnection process onto the magnetosheath flow. The ideal MHD equations governing the magnetosheath flow; Ohm's law, the MHD equation of motion, and the divergence free property of the magnetic field and the plasma velocity, are solved approximately using an expansion along uniform fields. Considering solutions up to the order O(E) for the outer magnetosheath flow, we obtain a class of solutions which are matched with the 2D viscous/resistive solutions in the transition layer. It is shown that a Petschek-like solution is obtained when the velocity gradient and the uniform velocity is zero. Having non-zero values on these parameters dramatically changes the topology of the magnetic field line- and plasma streamline pattern. The reconnection rate is also modified substantially, leading to a shut off when the velocity reaches the Alfvén velocity.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Strömningsmekanik och akustik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Strömningslära

Fluid Mechanics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)