HR: 0830h
AN: SM21B-0204    [PDF]
TI: Modeling the Inner Plasma Sheet Equilibrium.
AU: * Prosolin, V I
EM: victorp@space.ualberta.ca
AF: University of Alberta, Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2J1 Canada
AU: Voronkov, I O
EM: igor@space.ualberta.ca
AF: University of Alberta, Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2J1 Canada
AU: Samson, J C
EM: samson@space.ualberta.ca
AF: University of Alberta, Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2J1 Canada
AB: We present a new numerical algorithm which allows us to solve the system of nonlinear MHD equations. The model was applied to the magnetosphere plasma dynamics in the inner plasma sheet. The objective of this work was a detailed study of the equilibrium of the plasma sheet inner edge where magnetic field lines become stretched out from the dipolar to tail-like topology. This may result in the formation of the locally unstable B-min region observed by spacecraft. Here we present results for two dimensional equilibrium which includes a balance between pressure gradients and magnetic field as it may develop during the growth phase of magnetospheric substorms. At this stage, the inner edge gradually stretches down the tail. Eventually, the equilibrium passes a threshold of its stability. We examine this threshold and compare it with available spacecraft data.
DE: 2740 Magnetospheric configuration and dynamics
DE: 2752 MHD waves and instabilities
DE: 2753 Numerical modeling
DE: 2764 Plasma sheet
DE: 2788 Storms and substorms
SC: SPA - Magnetospheric Physics [SM]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting