Simulation Studies of Plasmaspheric Plume Density Structure/Ion Composition and Plume Plasma Transport to Dayside Magnetopause and Polar Cap

等离子体层羽流是从等离子体顶的标称位置向外延伸到磁层的致密的冷电离层等离子体区域。它在方位角上有一个有限的宽度。本研究将使用并改进动力流体动力学等离子体层电离层(DyFKPI)模型。该模型将自洽的基于流体的电离层模型和基于粒子的等离子体层模型结合在一起。它将被用来确定电子和离子(H、He和O)沿羽流磁力线的密度分布，并提供可用于确定沿通量管的密度的公式。这项研究的第二部分将量化作为磁层活动的函数传送到日侧磁层的等离子体层的等离子体质量。这项研究将研究等离子体层羽流如何将等离子体输送到极帽，并对磁层等离子体循环做出贡献。本研究中将使用图像RPI数据，并将其与模拟得出的密度分布进行比较。虽然这项研究相当狭隘地集中在等离子体羽流的结构和影响上，但由此得出的公式对磁层物理的其他研究将是有价值的。这笔助学金将资助一名研究生。

A plasmaspheric plume is a region of dense cold ionospheric plasma extending outward into the magnetosphere from the nominal location of the plasmapause. It has a limited width in azimuth. This study will use and improve the dynamic-fluid-kinetic-plasmasphere-ionosphere (DyFKPI) model. This model combines self-consistently a fluid based model of the ionosphere with a particle based model of the plasmasphere. It will be used to determine the density distributions of electrons and ions (H+, He+, and O+) along plume magnetic field lines and provide formulas that can be used to determine the density along the flux tube. The second part of this study will quantify the plasmaspheric plasma mass delivered to the dayside magnetospause as a function of magnetospheric activity. This research will investigate how plasmaspheric plumes deliver plasma to the polar cap and contribute to magnetospheric plasma circulation. IMAGE RPI data will be used in this study and compared with simulation derived density distributions. While the research is rather narrowly focused on the structure and impact of the plasma plumes the resulting formulas will be valuable in other studies of magnetospheric physics. The grant will support a graduate student.