Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agufmsm21c..05w&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002, abstract #SM21C-05
Other
2724 Magnetopause, Cusp, And Boundary Layers, 2728 Magnetosheath, 2731 Magnetosphere: Outer, 2753 Numerical Modeling, 2784 Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions
Scientific paper
The plasma depletion layer (PDL) is a layer on the sunward side of the magnetopause with lower plasma density and higher magnetic field compared to the corresponding upstream magnetosheath values. It predominantly occurs during northward IMF conditions. In this presentation, we investigate the basic physics of the formation of the PDL, which is fundamental for the understanding of the magnetosheath and magnetopause boundary layer. In a previous study, we have validated our global model by comparing model results with PDL observations. We now extend this work by studying the more detailed physics of the PDL with global MHD simulations. Detailed force analysis shows that different forces are playing different roles at different locations. A new technique is presented to test the location of the possible slow mode front in the magnetosheath. The results show that, when we assume a magnetopause wave source, slow mode fronts do not exist for typical IMF and solar conditions that otherwise lead to PDL formation. A more detailed flux tube depletion process in the magnetosheath is described. The results are compared with the former results by Zwan and Wolf [1976] and major differences are found. Finally, we show that plasma expansion, more likely than a slow mode front, is responsible for the plasma depletion layer.
Raeder Joachim
Russell Christopher T.
Wang Li-Yan
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