Collaborative Research: Magnetospheric Mass Density

冷等离子体质量密度的知识对于内磁层的一些磁层研究至关重要。例如，质量密度模型对于辐射带研究、太阳风和磁层相互作用的磁流体动力学模型以及超低频波研究都是重要的。这是一个很难直接观察到的量，因此将使用间接方法。这种方法利用阿尔文波共振。 该研究将在以往的质量密度测定的基础上进行扩展，将结果向地球（L~2）方向延伸，并提供一个三维模型。由此产生的密度模型将根据位置、太阳风和地磁条件进行参数化。由于THEMIS使命的新数据，我们对质量密度的认识将得到提高。如果这项研究的唯一成就是扩大了密度模型的径向覆盖范围，那么它将是成功的，这是非常有可能的。

Knowledge of the cold plasma mass density is critically important for a number of magnetospheric studies in the inner magnetosphere. For instance models of the mass density are important for radiation belt research, magnetohydrodynamic models of the solar wind and magnetosphere interaction and Ultra Low Frequency wave research. This is a very difficult quantity to observe directly so an indirect approach will be used. This approach makes use of Alfvén wave resonances. The research will expand on previous determinations of the mass density by extending the results closer to the Earth (L~2) and providing a 3D model. The resulting density model will be parameterized by location, solar wind and geomagnetic conditions. This improvement in our knowledge of the mass density will result because of new data from the THEMIS mission.The strength of this proposal is that it will address a great need for mass density models that extends beyond the present study. If the only accomplishment of this study is expanded radial coverage of the density models it will be a success and that is highly probable.