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

等离子体羽流是一个稠密的冷电离层等离子体区域，从等离子体顶的名义位置向外延伸到磁层。它的方位角宽度有限。本研究将使用并改进动力学-流体-动力学-等离子体-电离层（DyFKPI）模型。这个模型结合了基于流体的电离层模型和基于粒子的等离子层模型。它将用于确定沿羽流磁场线的电子和离子（H+， He+和O+）的密度分布，并提供可用于确定沿通量管密度的公式。本研究的第二部分将量化传递到日侧磁层顶的等离子体质量作为磁层活动的函数。这项研究将调查等离子体羽流如何将等离子体输送到极帽并促进磁层等离子体循环。本研究将使用IMAGE RPI数据，并与模拟得出的密度分布进行比较。虽然目前的研究主要集中在等离子体羽流的结构和影响上，但所得公式对磁层物理的其他研究具有重要价值。这笔补助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.