High-Resolution Simulations of Dayside Reconnection and Cusp Energetic Ions

Abstract:

Under given solar wind conditions the IMF orientation controls the bow shock geometry, day side reconnection sites and magnetic topology of the northern and southern cusps. We use an advanced multiscale hybrid code, HYPERS to conduct 3D high-resolution simulations of these representative topologies. We examine magnetopause reconnection, as well its resulting magnetic field convection and connectivity patterns to investigate the 3D turbulent response of the dayside magnetosphere to southward and northward IMF conditions and concomitant generation and precipitation of energetic ions into the cusps. In particular, we investigate the sources of ion acceleration by comparing the cusp ion spectra with those measured at the bow shock.