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Hybrid simulations of tangential discontinuities
Author(s) -
Cargill P. J.
Publication year - 1990
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/gl017i008p01037
Subject(s) - classification of discontinuities , magnetopause , plasma , physics , gyroradius , electric field , magnetic field , ion , computational physics , streamlines, streaklines, and pathlines , field (mathematics) , perpendicular , mechanics , atomic physics , magnetosphere , geometry , nuclear physics , mathematical analysis , mathematics , quantum mechanics , pure mathematics
One dimensional hybrid simulations of tangential discontinuities (TDs) are presented. Ion kinetic effects are shown to play a crucial role in determining the TD structure. When the density ratio across a TD is large, magnetic profiles with either overshoots or monotonic gradients are obtained. When there is a bulk plasma flow perpendicular to the magaetic field, so that the motional electric field is directed into the moving plasma, the field profiles exhibit similar behavior when the density ratio differs from unity. In each of these cases, the final width is between 2 and 5 ion Larmor radii, roughly what is seen at the earth's magnetopause.