Elucidation of Magnetospheric Magnetic Topology Bifurcation by Numerical Simulations

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We investigated the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction using numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulation and examined the magnetic flux circulation(plasma convection) from a point of view of magnetic topology. We found a new magnetic flux circulation mode operating that is different from the one previously expected. The circulation mode is driven by magnetic re connection between open and closed geomagnetic field lines. There are various appearance patterns depending on the directions of the interplanetary magnetic field and the Earth' s dipole axis. Ionospheric convection patters reported in the past are successfully explained by this new idea of magnetic flux circulation.