Laboratory Simulation of the Solar Wind Magnetosphere Interaction

Abstract

A controlled plasma–magnetic field interaction has been achieved, the conditions of which are such as to fulfill generally the scaling considerations of some aspects of geophysical phenomena, in particular the initial commencement of a magnetic storm. The preliminary measurements indicate the sweeping action on a magnetic field by a moving plasma; the formation of a magnetic cavity; the motion of the "dip pole" under perturbed conditions; the stand-off of plasma; a quasi Van Allen belt whose drift westward can be suggested as a ring current mechanism; and a polar trapping region. The correlations between the laboratory observations, geophysical measurements, and related theories, where possible, show no serious discrepancies as yet.

Shape of the magnetospheric boundary under solar wind pressure

“…The shape they observed confirms very well the general shape of the boundary as here calculateda smaller part of the boundary surface, but are also in qualitative agreement with the present calculations. In addition, Kawashima and Ishizuka reported observation of plasma penetration into the region near the cusps, and saw the formation of a ring of plasma completely around the dipole Osborne et al [1963]. have also experimented with the flow of plasma past a three-dimensional magnetic dipole, with particular attention to scaling the experimental parameters to give as good a scaled model as possible of the magnetospheric conditions.…”