Study of the Onset of the Earth Magnetosphere under the Influence of the Solar Wind

Abstract

In this study the magnetic field of earth was hypothetically set at zero, and then switched on. The interaction between the solar wind and the earth magnetosphere as a function of time was studied. Numerical simulations through TRISTAN, a sophisticated FORTRAN code, made this study possible where space was dealt with as cubic boxes of dimension 105x55x55 Re. Formation of the magnetospheric cavity and its elongation around the planet was observed varying with time. We also noticed that the cavity is repopulated by clouds of particles at the level of the equatorial plane, producing a thin plasma sheet. Velocity drift of the solar wind was changed and the related consequences were studied. That simulation is consistent with in situ space observations