Work

Pre‐Existing Plasmaspheric Density Structure

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We perform a basic model experiment: we run two nearly identical plasmapause simulations, differing only by their initial conditions. The first run contains initial fine‐scale and mesoscale structure, and the second run is initialized with a featureless, circular plasmapause. We show that residual or pre‐existing density structure can have an important impact on plasmaspheric dynamics.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/2026gl124428

Authors: J. Goldstein, M. F. Thomsen

Institutions: Southwest Research Institute, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Planetary Science Institute

Language: English

Topic: Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,190

Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Southwest Research Institute