Quantitative model of magnetic coupling between solar wind and magnetospherePreliminary results are presented of a quantitative three-dimensional model of an open steady-state magnetosphere configuration incorporating a normal-component distribution corresponding to the subsolar merging-line hypothesis. The distribution of the normal magnetic-field component at the magnetopause is used as input and is used to calculate an interconnection magnetic field that links the internal and external fields. The interconnected field is then used to map the solar-wind electric field onto the polar cap. The resulting polar-cap flow patterns are found to be in agreement with observations.
Document ID
19870052841
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Toffoletto, F. R. (Rice Univ. Houston, TX, United States)
Hill, T. W. (Rice University Houston, TX, United States)