A model for plasma flows and shocks in the high-altitude cusp

A new model for the interaction of a supersonic magnetosheath flow with the high‐altitude cusp is proposed. Archival and recent observations have suggested that the cusp is a region of indentation, where solar wind plasma is found earthward of the nominal magnetopause position. It is proposed that a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geophysical Research, Washington, DC Washington, DC, 1999-07, Vol.104 (A7), p.14647-14653
Main Author: Cargill, Peter J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Interaction between magnetosphere and interplanetary space
Physics of the magnetosphere
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Summary:A new model for the interaction of a supersonic magnetosheath flow with the high‐altitude cusp is proposed. Archival and recent observations have suggested that the cusp is a region of indentation, where solar wind plasma is found earthward of the nominal magnetopause position. It is proposed that a supersonic solar wind flow interacts with such an indentation by being first accelerated through an expansion fan and then decelerated by a shock. For most realistic parameters the shock cannot originate from the deepest part of the cusp but must be detached. The rarefaction of the magnetosheath plasma leads to a rather shallow cusp (< 1Re) and also implies that the cusp becomes less indented the more tailward it is located.
ISSN:0148-0227
2156-2202
DOI:10.1029/1999JA900155