Open AccessA three‐dimensional dynamic kinetic model of the plasmasphere
Author(s) -
Pierrard V.,
Stegen K.
Publication year - 2008
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 - 10.1029/2008ja013060
Subject(s) - plasmasphere , physics , earth's magnetic field , kinetic energy , geophysics , instability , computational physics , magnetosphere , magnetic field , classical mechanics , mechanics , quantum mechanics
The scientific goal of the present paper is to develop a three‐dimensional physical dynamic model of the plasmasphere that is constrained by realistic data. The core of the plasmasphere is obtained from the kinetic exospheric approach assuming a kappa velocity distribution function for the particles. The relative abundance of trapped particles is constrained in such way that the density profiles correspond to Carpenter and Anderson's (1992) observations. The position of the plasmapause is determined by the interchange instability mechanism for the formation of the plasmapause, which is a function of the level of geomagnetic activity. The deformation of the plasmasphere during quiet and disturbed geomagnetic periods is illustrated and compared with the results of other plasmaspheric models and observations of IMAGE and Cluster.