Exploring the Physical Mechanisms of the Dayside Magnetopause Current System

Jason Beedle

Graduate Student
Department of Physics 
The Catholic University of America

Wed, November 17, 2021 - 4:00 PM
Karl Herzfeld Auditorium of Hannan Hall - Rm 108


The solar wind represents a continuous outflow of charged particles from the Sun’s upper atmosphere into the solar system. Upon reaching Earth's magnetosphere, the solar wind's dynamic pressure is balanced by the magnetic pressure of Earth's magnetic field in a boundary layer known as the magnetopause. This boundary layer represents the entry point of the solar wind's energy into Earth's magnetosphere and upper atmosphere, playing a crucial role in energy transport throughout the interconnected system. Plasma density and temperature differences across the boundary layer generate an electric current that supports the magnetopause. In our study, we clarify the physical mechanism of the magnetopause current by using high-resolution data from NASA's MMS mission. We found a significant (up to 30%) ion temperature contribution to the magnetopause current not identified in previous studies. Our results also indicated that the plasma electrons' contribution to the magnetopause current was significantly smaller than the ion contribution.

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