The magnetosphere mixing layer: Observations, MHD stability, and large eddy simulations

Abstract

The work is about the evolution of large vortices in the boundary layer of the terrestrial magnetopause studied by computational physics, in support of interpretive analysis of spacecraft data from an event observed on December 7, 2000. The distinctive features of the configuration examined are i) the very small magnetic shear across the boundary, and ii) the dynamics concerns mainly the vorticity. The magnetic field is only fluted during the process, but it determines the direction of the vortex axis. Considering new elements from computer simulations and observations, an extension of the research of a recent publication in this journal is reported. A magnetohydrodynamic code for large eddy simulations is used to examine the influence of supersonic, and superAlfvénic speeds, on the dynamics of the boundary layer. Correlations of data are studied to identify signatures of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, and the presence of whirling plasma. The aim is to improve the understanding of factors that govern the tailward growth of the low latitude boundary layer, and the potentiality of plasma entry into the magnetosphere, during periods of northward interplanetary magnetic field.