Open AccessDynamical range of the WINDMI model: An exploration of possible magnetospheric plasma states
Author(s) -
Smith James P.,
Thiffeault JeanLuc,
Horton Wendell
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/1999ja000218
Subject(s) - magnetosphere , physics , chaotic , statistical physics , magnetohydrodynamics , ionosphere , plasma , range (aeronautics) , space physics , classical mechanics , computational physics , geophysics , computer science , quantum mechanics , aerospace engineering , engineering , artificial intelligence
This paper explores the dynamical range of the WINDMI model ( Horton and Doxas , 1998]. Such low‐dimensional models provide us with the tools to understand the relationships of simple physical quantities within the magnetosphere (such as energy deposition, macroscopic currents, cross‐tail voltage, etc.) without the necessity of coping with the more complete but unwieldy models (MHD or particle codes, for example). The model is highly versatile: certain regions of the parameter space support stable fixed points, while others contain periodic states that exhibit period doubling, and sometimes chaos. States in each of these regimes (stable, periodic, chaotic) are investigated for their ability to accurately describe the observed properties of the magnetosphere‐ionosphere system. A brief discussion of applications of this model to current space physics problems is included.