- Article
- Published:
Three-dimensional hybrid simulation of magnetized plasma flow around an obstacle
Earth, Planets and Space volume 51, pages 383–393 (1999)
Abstract
The interaction between the magnetized plasma flow and an obstacle was investigated in the computer simulations described here by using a three-dimensional hybrid code (kinetic ions and massless fluid electrons). The results, which are relevant to the interaction between the solar wind and an unmagnetized planet (Venus or Mars), show that fundamental structures (bow shock and magnetotail) are formed. When a reflecting boundary is used at the obstacle, the magnetic field configuration was clearly asymmetrical in the direction of the convection electric field. This asymmetry is a result of differences in ion acceleration due to the convection electric field. Asymmetry is also evident when the size of the obstacle is close to the Larmor radius of protons. The shock of a smaller obstacle is weaker than that of a larger obstacle, but the shock size is almost independent of the obstacle size.
References
Alexander, C. J., J. G. Luhmann, and C. T. Russell, Interplanetary field control of the location of the Venus bow shock: Evidence for comet-like ion pickup, Geophys. Res. Lett., 13, 917–920, 1986.
Brecht, S. H., Magnetic asymmetries of unmagnetized planets, Geophys. Res. Lett., 17, 1243–1246, 1990.
Brecht, S. H. and J. R. Ferrante, Global hybrid simulation of unmagnetized planets: Comparison of Venus and Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 11209–11220, 1991.
Brecht, S. H., J. R. Ferrante, and J. G. Luhmann, Three-dimensional simulations of the solar wind interaction with Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 98, 1345–1357, 1993.
Brecht, S. H., Hybrid simulations of the magnetic topology of Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 4743–4750, 1997.
Intriligator, D. S., Observations of mass addition to the shocked solar wind of the Venusian ionosheath, Geophys. Res. Lett., 9, 727–730, 1982.
Leroy, M. M., D. Winske, C. C. Goodrich, C. S. Wu, and K. Papadopoulos, The structure of perpendicular bow shocks, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 5081–5094, 1982.
Luhmann, J. G., C. T. Russell, J. R. Spreiter, and S. S. Stahara, Evidence for mass-loading of the Venus magnetosheath, Adv. Space Res., 5, 307–311, 1985.
Marubashi, K., J. M. Grebowsky, H. A. Taylor, Jr., J. G. Luhmann, C. T. Russell, and A. Barnes, Magnetic field in the wake of Venus and the formation of ionospheric holes, J. Geophys. Res., 90, 1385–1398, 1985.
Moore, K. R., V. A. Thomas, and D. J. McComas, Global hybrid simulation of the solar wind interaction with the dayside of Venus, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 7779–7791, 1991.
Phillips, J. L., J. G. Luhmann, C. T. Russell, and K. R. Moore, Finite Larmor radius effect on ion pickup at Venus, J. Geophys. Res., 92, 9920–9930, 1987.
Russell, C. T., E. Chou, J. G. Luhmann, P. Gazis, L. H. Brace, and W. R. Hoegy, Solar and interplanetary control of the location of the Venus bow shock, J. Geophys. Res., 93, 5461–5469, 1988.
Saunders, M. A. and C. T. Russell, Average dimension and magnetic structure of the distant Venus magnetotail, J. Geophys. Res., 91, 5589–5604, 1986.
Shimazu, H., S. Machida, and M. Tanaka, Macroparticle simulation of collisionless parallel shocks generated by solar wind and planetary plasma interactions, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 7647–7658, 1996.
Slavin, J. A. and R. E. Holzer, Solar wind flow about the terrestrial planets 1. Modeling bow shock position and shape, J. Geophys. Res., 86, 11401–11418, 1981.
Slavin, J. A., R. C. Elphic, and C. T. Russell, A comparison of Pioneer Venus and Venera bow shock observations: Evidence for a solar cycle variation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 6, 905–908, 1979.
Slavin, J. A., R. E. Holzer, J. R. Spreiter, S. S. Stahara, and D. S. Chaussee, Solar wind flow about the terrestrial planets 2. Comparison with gas dynamic theory and implications for solar-planetary interactions, J. Geophys. Res., 88, 19–35, 1983.
Slavin, J. A., D. S. Intriligator, and E. J. Smith, Pioneer Venus Orbiter magnetic field and plasma observations in the Venus magnetotail, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 2383–2398, 1989.
Spreiter, J. R., A. L. Summers, and A. W. Rizzi, Solar wind flow past nonmagnetic planets-Venus and Mars, Planet. Space Sci., 18, 1281–1299, 1970.
Tanaka, T., Configurations of the solar wind flow and magnetic field around the planets with no magnetic field: Calculation by a new MHD simulation scheme, J. Geophys. Res., 98, 17251–17262, 1993.
Yeroshenko, Ye., W. Riedler, K. Schwingenschuh, J. G. Luhmann, M. Ong, and C. T. Russell, The magnetotail of Mars: Phobos observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 17, 885–888, 1990.
Zhang, T. L., K. Schwingenschuh, H. Lichtenegger, W. Riedler, C. T. Russell, and J. G. Luhmann, Interplanetary magnetic field control of the Mars bow shock: Evidence for Venuslike interaction, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 11265–11269, 1991.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shimazu, H. Three-dimensional hybrid simulation of magnetized plasma flow around an obstacle. Earth Planet Sp 51, 383–393 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352242
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352242