Solar Wind-Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling

空间(和天体物理)等离子体科学的统一概念之一是爆炸能量转换(EPC)。该项目是通过对日冕物质抛射和磁层亚暴这两个最著名的例子进行比较研究，系统地试图揭示EPC发生的一个普遍过程。这种宇宙过程的一个潜在可能性是，作用在磁泡上的排斥力和吸引力之间失去平衡。形成了一个尾巴状的结构，形成了一个“香槟-玻璃杯”的磁性结构。调查将使用社区协调建模中心(CCMC)提供的三种不同的全球MHD模拟模型来模拟亚风暴，并测试是否存在平衡特征丢失。如果信号存在，那么模拟将被用来确定在合适的太阳风条件下磁层的演化如何导致平衡丧失的出现。将使用三个不同和独立的MHD代码来测试结果的稳健性。第二个目标与基础研究工作相结合。模拟结果将用于构建一套全面的日地基础物理单元课程。这些课程将通过增长和用户反馈定期更新，并将通过CCMC网站以交互方式获取。

One of the unifying concepts of space (and astrophysical) plasma science is that of explosive energy conversions (EPCs). This project is a systematic attempt to uncover a universal process underlying the occurrence of EPCs through a comparative study of its most well known examples: coronal mass ejections and magnetospheric substorms. One potential candidate for such a universal process is the loss of equilibrium between repulsive and attractive forces operating on a magnetic bubble. A tail-like configuration forms, creating a "champagne-glass" magnetic structure. The investigation will use three different, global, MHD simulation models available at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) to simulate substorms and test whether the loss of equilibrium signature is present. If the signature is present then the simulations will be used to determine how the evolution of the magnetosphere under suitable solar wind conditions leads to the emergence of the loss of equilibrium. The use of three different and independent MHD codes will be used to test the robustness of the result.A second goal is coupled with the basic research effort. The simulation results will be used to construct a comprehensive set of unit lessons in basic solar-terrestrial physics. The lessons will be routinely updated through growth and user feedback and will be accessible interactively through the CCMC web site.