CAREER: A Simulation Study of Reconnection Layers in the Magnetotail

该提案的目标是发展一个全面，平衡的学术生涯，涉及研究和教育活动，正如NSF职业计划所强调的那样。 以下是研究和教育计划的简要摘要。 (A)研究计划：磁重联在太阳风质量、动量和能量通过磁层顶向地球磁层的传递以及磁尾磁亚暴的发展和能量释放中起着非常重要的作用。 在重联过程中，在流出区可形成包含多个磁流体力学（MHD）间断和波的层状结构。 磁场重联中的能量转换主要是通过重联层中的不连续性和波进行的。 该研究计划的目的是系统地研究磁尾重联层的形成和结构。 本研究的主要研究工具是一维（1-D）和二维（2-D）混合模拟，以MHD理论和重联层模拟为指导。 具体而言，这一建议是： (1)确定平静期准定常重联中远尾重联层的结构和相关的不连续性;（2）研究亚暴活跃期磁重联瞬变阶段近尾重联层的结构和演化：（三）研究磁尾慢激波的结构和离子加热尾等离子体片边界的结构，慢激波和电磁波，以及磁尾磁场重联中的离子动力学。 (B)教育计划：除了科学研究，奥本大学物理系学术活动的另一个重要组成部分是科学教育。 教学、研究和外联以一种相互强化的方式不可阻挡地交织在一起。 PI的教育计划旨在平衡PI的研究活动并与部门目标保持一致。 具体而言，教育计划包括：（1）有效利用PI专业知识的入门级、高级本科和研究生级本科和研究生课程教学的五年计划; (2)本科生的研究项目，以吸引学生到更高层次的研究和促进PI的研究活动;（3）推广活动，地区高中，互动和培训高中科学教师和学生，并在130万美元休斯倡议的参与。

The objective of this proposal is to develop a full, balanced academic career which involves both research and education activities, as emphasized by the NSF CAREER Program. A brief summary of the research and education plans follows. (A) Research Plan: Magnetic reconnection plays a very important role in the transfer of the solar wind mass, momentum, and energy into the earth's magnetosphere through the magnetospause and in the development of geomagnetic substorms and energy release in the magnetotail. In the reconnection process, a layered structure which contains several magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) discontinuities and waves can be formed in the outflow region. The energy conversion in the magnetic reconnection is mainly through the discontinuities and waves in this reconnection layer. The purpose of the research plan is to systematically study the formation and structure of reconnection layers in the magnetotail. The primary research tools of the study are one-dimensional )1-D) and two dimensional (2-D) hybrid simulations, guided by MHD theories and simulations of the reconnection layer. Specifically, this proposal is to: (1) Determine the structure of the distant-tail reconnection layer and associated discontinuities in quasi-steady reconnection during quiet time; (2) Study the structure and evolution of the near-tail reconnection layer during transient stages of magnetic reconnection in a substorm active time: (3) Investigate the structure and ion heating of slow shocks in the magnetotail The proposed study is expected to contribute significantly to our understanding of the structure of the tail plasma sheet boundary, the slow shocks and electromagnetic waves, and the ion dynamics in the magnetotail magnetic reconnection. (B) Education Plan: In addition to the scientific research, the other important component of academic activities at the Physics Department of Auburn University is science education. Instruction, research, and out reach are inexorably intertwined in a manner that each re-enforces the other. The PI's education plan is made to balance the research activity of the PI and to be consistent with the department goals. Specifically, the education plan includes: (1) A five-year plan of undergraduate and graduate course teaching at the introductory level, advanced undergraduate and graduate level, which effectively utilizes the expertise of the PI; (2) Research projects for undergraduate students in order to attract students to higher levels of study and to contribute to the research activities of the PI; (3) Outreach activities to area high schools, to interact with and train high school science teachers and students, and participation in the $1.3 million Hughes Initiative.