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Lemon et al. 2003
Lemon, C., Toffoletto, F., Hesse, M. and Birn, J. (2003). Computing magnetospheric force equilibria. Journal of Geophysical Research 108: doi: 10.1029/2002JA009702. issn: 0148-0227.

We describe a method to compute three-dimensional force equilibria in the Earth's magnetosphere. The method is embodied in a code called the MagnetoFriction code which solves a set of ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations that are modified to include a frictional dissipation term in the momentum equation. The friction takes the form of a force which is directed against the fluid motion and is therefore an energy sink. This allows the system to settle into a minimum energy equilibrium. A nonuniform cartesian grid is used along with initial conditions supplied by empirical magnetic field and pressure models. These initial conditions do not, in general, satisfy the force balance condition $vec{J} times vec{B} = nabla_{p}$, and the code must iterate until approximate force balance is achieved. Pressure and magnetic field solutions are presented for several different configurations of the magnetosphere.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Space Plasma Physics, Experimental and mathematical techniques, Magnetospheric Physics, Planetary magnetospheres (5443, 5737, 6030), Magnetospheric Physics, Numerical modeling, Space Plasma Physics, Numerical simulation studies
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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