NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
The UAH Spinning Terrella Experiment: A Laboratory Analog for the Earth's MagnetosphereThe UAH Spinning Terrella Experiment has been modified to include the effect of a second magnet. This is a simple laboratory demonstration of the well-known double-dipole approximation to the Earth's magnetosphere. In addition, the magnet has been biassed $\sim$-400V which generates a DC glow discharge and traps it in a ring current around the magnet. This ring current is easily imaged with a digital camera and illustrates several significant topological properties of a dipole field. In particular, when the two dipoles are aligned, and therefore repel, they emulate a northward IMF Bz magnetosphere. Such a geometry traps plasma in the high latitude cusps as can be clearly seen in the movies. Likewise, when the two magnets are anti-aligned, they emulate a southward IMF Bz magnetosphere with direct feeding of plasma through the x-line. We present evidence for trapping and heating of the plasma, comparing the dipole-trapped ring current to the cusp-trapped population. We also present a peculiar asymmetric ring current produced in by the plasma at low plasma densities. We discuss the similarities and dissimilarities of the laboratory analog to the collisionless Earth plasma, and implications for the interpretation of IMAGE data.
Document ID
20010038733
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sheldon, R. B.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Gallagher, D. L.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Craven, P. D.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Whitaker, Ann F.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Physics (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting
Location: Boston, MA
Country: United States
Start Date: April 1, 2001
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available