NIFS-049

FULL TEXT (PDF, 1170 KB)


Author(s):

A.Kageyama, K.Watanabe and T.Sato

Title:

Global Simulation of the Magnetosphere with a Long Tail: The Formation and Ejection of Plasmoids

Date of publication:

Sep. 1990

Key words:

computer simulation, magnetohydrodynamics, magnetosphere, magnetotail, plasmoid, magnetic reconnection, plasma sheet

Abstract:

A global simulation of the formation of the magnetosphere with along tail is performed. A magnetosphere with a neutral sheet is constructed from a dipole field by solar wind dynamic pressure (no IMF). Subsequently, magnetic reconnection occurs in the plasma sheet and a large lump of plasma surrounded by reconnected field lines, a plasmoid, is formed and ejected tailward. The time scale of the plasmoid formation and ejection process is several hours. After ejecting the plasmoid, reconnection occurs again in the plasma sheet and the second plasmoid is formed and ejected. This result shows that the magnetosphere which has a sufficiently long tail and a neutral sheet is slightly unstable even though a solar wind does not contain an IMF.

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