The Kelvin-Helmholtz vortex in the asymmetric velocity shear layer: PIC simulations

Details The Kelvin-Helmholtz vortex in the asymmetric velocity shear layer: PIC simulations The Kelvin-Helmholtz vortex in the asymmetric velocity shear layer: PIC simulations

Dec 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufmsm23a2034n&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #SM23A-2034

Physics

Plasma Physics

[7833] Space Plasma Physics / Mathematical And Numerical Techniques, [7835] Space Plasma Physics / Magnetic Reconnection, [7836] Space Plasma Physics / Mhd Waves And Instabilities, [7859] Space Plasma Physics / Transport Processes

Scientific paper

We have performed full particle (PIC) simulations of the vortex-induced reconnection using asymmetric conditions across the velocity shear layer. The Kelvin-Helmholtz vortex (KHV) has been believed to cause direct entry of the solar-wind plasma into the magnetosphere across the low-latitude magnetopause (i.e., plasma mixing between solar-wind and magnetospheric plasmas) under northward IMF conditions. Recently, our particle simulations with symmetric conditions across the velocity shear layer have revealed that the MHD-scale KHVs generally cause efficient plasma mixing via magnetic reconnection and associated multiple magnetic island formation within the vortex. Indeed, recent Cluster and THEMIS observations are revealing that magnetic islands actually formed between the MHD-scale KHVs. In this study, we further performed particle simulations of the MHD-scale KHVs with density and temperature asymmetries across the boundary, which always exist at the actual magnetopause. Using the simulation results, we succeeded in estimating actual sizes of islands caused within the asymmetric magnetopause and actual mixing rate within the KHVs. In this presentation, we will discuss how important the KHVs are in the solar-wind entry into the magnetosphere.

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