GEM: Investigation of Plasmasphere-Magnetosphere Dynamics

这是基于2009年GEM计划的一项研究的继续，该计划的研究最初资助了三年。这涵盖了这一努力的最后两年。唯一的变化是研究将在哪里进行。这项努力分为两个部分。一是开展科学调查，二是协助办好创业板计划的科学部分。下面讨论这两项任务。等离子体层是在地球附近(~4RE)发现的一个相对密集的冷等离子体区域(1000厘米-3)。建议使用数据分析和模拟来研究这种冷等离子体从等离子体层中的排放及其对磁层动力学的影响。最近的研究结果表明，等离子体层的等离子体泄漏可能会影响扰动时间内的磁层动力学。这项研究将集中在磁暴期间提出的四种影响。我们将特别研究以下问题：1)冷等离子体是否影响日侧磁层的重联速率？2)这是否降低了太阳-风/磁层的整体耦合？3)冷等离子体是否影响电子辐射带的衰变？4)它是否导致辐射带丢失和突然恢复？对这些问题的回答应该有助于更深入地理解磁层中冷等离子体的影响。这项研究将影响未来全球模型对磁层动力学的影响。创业板计划的研究协议是专注于特定的焦点主题。每一次都为期三年。这项研究的部分资金将用于帮助协调其中两个重点小组的工作。这是关于“等离子体层-磁层相互作用”的焦点组和关于“漫射极光降水”的组。

This is a continuation of a study based on the GEM program in 2009 where its research was originally funded for three years. This covers that last two years of that effort. The only change is the location at which the research will be carried out. The effort had two parts. One is to carry out a scientific investigation and the second is to aid in running the scientific parts of the GEM program. Both tasks are discussed below.The plasmasphere is a region of relatively dense cold plasma (1000 cm-3) found near the Earth (~ 4 RE). This is proposal to use data analysis and simulation to investigate drainage of this cold plasma from the plasmasphere and its effect on the dynamics of the magnetosphere. Recent findings indicate that leakage of plasma from the plasmasphere may affect magnetospheric dynamics during disturbed times. This research will focus on four of the effects that have been suggested during magnetic storms. In particular the following questions will be examined: 1) Does the cold plasma affect the reconnection rate at the dayside magnetosphere? 2) Does this reduce the overall solar-wind/magnetosphere coupling? 3) Does the cold plasma influence the decay of electron radiation belts? 4) Does it lead to radiation belt dropouts and sudden recoveries? Answers to these questions should lead to a deeper understanding of the effects of cold plasma in the magnetosphere. This research will impact future global models to magnetospheric dynamics. The GEM program's research protocol is to concentrate on specific focus topics. Each of these lasts three years. Part of the funding for this research will be used to help coordinate two of these focus group efforts. These are the focus group on 'Plasmasphere-Magnetosphere Interactions' and the group on 'Diffuse Auroral Precipitation'.