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The solar wind‐magnetosphere‐ionosphere current‐voltage relationship
Author(s) -
Fedder J. A.,
Lyon J. G.
Publication year - 1987
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/gl014i008p00880
Subject(s) - magnetosphere , dynamo , physics , ionosphere , geophysics , solar wind , magnetohydrodynamic drive , planet , solar dynamo , current (fluid) , dynamo theory , computational physics , atmospheric sciences , magnetohydrodynamics , astrophysics , magnetic field , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
The nature of the solar wind‐magnetosphere‐ionosphere (SW‐M‐I) coupling has been a subject of intense study and scientific interest. We report results from a numerical simulation of the SW‐M‐I system which shed light on the physics and behavior of the controlling processes. The current‐voltage relationship is characteristic of a magnetohydrodynamic dynamo with a load operating near short circuit conditions. We discuss the operation of the dynamo, its location with respect to the magnetosphere, and important implications of the results for both the earth and other planets with intrinsic magnetic fields.