The effects of inductive electric field on the spatial and temporal evolution of the inner magnetospheric ring current

Charged particles are observed to be injected into the inner magnetosphere from the plasma sheet and energized up to high energies over a short distance and time, during both geomagnetic storms and substorms. Numerous studies suggest that it is the short-duration and high-speed plasma flows, which are closely associated with the global effects of magnetic reconnection and inductive effects, rather than the slow and steady convection that control the earthward transport of plasma and magnetic flux from the magnetotail, especially during geomagnetic activities. In order to include the effect of the inductive electric field produced by the temporal change of magnetic field on the dynamics of ring current, we implemented both theoretical and numerical modifications to an inner magnetosphere kinetic model---Hot Electron-Ion Drift Integrator. New drift terms associated with the inductive electric field are incorporated into the calculation of bounce-averaged coefficients for the distribution function, and their numerical implementations and the associated effects on total drift and energization rate are discussed. Numerical simulations show that the local particle drifts are significantly altered by the presence of inductive electric fields, in addition to the changing magnetic gradient-curvature drift due to the distortion of the magnetic field, and at certain locations, the inductive drift dominates both the potential and the magnetic gradient-curvature drift. The presence of a self-consistent inductive electric field alters the overall particle trajectories, energization, and pitch angle, resulting in significant changes in the topology and the strength of the ring current.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Liu, Jianghuai

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ilie, Raluca

• Kinetic Model
• Ring Current
• Inner Magnetosphere
• Inductive Electric Field
• Particles Acceleration
• Magnetic Dipolarization

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Jianghuai Liu

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109378

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F109378