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MHD simulation of a rapidly rotating magnetosphere interacting with the external plasma flow
Author(s) -
Miyoshi T.,
Kusano K.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/97gl52739
Subject(s) - magnetosphere , plasmoid , physics , magnetohydrodynamics , plasma , mechanics , rotation (mathematics) , flow (mathematics) , supersonic speed , classical mechanics , magnetic reconnection , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
The nonlinear interaction of a rapidly rotating magnetosphere with the external supersonic plasma flow is investigated by using the three‐dimensional global magneto‐hydrodynamic (MHD) simulation. The results of the simulations clearly indicate that various dawn‐dusk asymmetries are generated due to the effect of the rotation. Particularly, the location of the plasmoid, which is generated in the tail region of the rotating magnetosphere, is quite different from the case without rotation. It is also found that distinctive magnetospheric structures such as the plasma disc are largely modified in response to the dynamic pressure in the external plasma flow.