Hybrid simulations of mini-magnetospheres in the laboratory

被引：23

作者：

Gargate, L. ^{[1
]}

Bingham, R. ^{[2
]}

Fonseca, R. A. ^{[1
,3
]}

Bamford, R. ^{[2
]}

Thornton, A. ^{[4
]}

Gibson, K. ^{[4
]}

Bradford, J. ^{[2
]}

Silva, L. O. ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Inst Super Tecn, Inst Plasmas & Fusao Nucl, GoLP, P-1049001 Lisbon, Portugal

[2] Rutherford Appleton Lab, Space Sci & Technol Dept, Sci & Technol Facil Council, Didcot OX11 0QX, Oxon, England

[3] Inst Super Ciencias Trabalho & Empresa, DCTI, P-1649026 Lisbon, Portugal

[4] Univ York, Dept Phys, York YO10 5DD, N Yorkshire, England

来源：

PLASMA PHYSICS AND CONTROLLED FUSION | 2008年 / 50卷 / 07期

关键词：

D O I：

10.1088/0741-3335/50/7/074017

中图分类号：

O35 [流体力学]; O53 [等离子体物理学];

学科分类号：

070204 ; 080103 ; 080704 ;

摘要：

Solar energetic ions are a known hazard to both spacecraft electronics and to manned space flights in interplanetary space missions that extend over a long period of time. A dipole-like magnetic field and a plasma source, forming a mini-magnetosphere, are being tested in the laboratory as means of protection against such hazards. We investigate, via particle-in-cell hybrid simulations, using kinetic ions and fluid electrons, the characteristics of the mini-magnetospheres. Our results, for parameters identical to the experimental conditions, reveal the formation of a mini-magnetosphere, whose features are scanned with respect to the plasma density, the plasma flow velocity and the intensity of the dipole field. Comparisons with a simplified theoretical model reveal a good qualitative agreement and excellent quantitative agreement for higher plasma dynamic pressures and lower B-fields.

引用

页数：9