Two-Dimensional MHD Model of the Jovian Magnetodiskстатья
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Дата последнего поиска статьи во внешних источниках: 19 октября 2015 г.
Аннотация:A self-consistent stationary axially symmetric MHD model of the Jovian magnetodisk is con-
structed. This model is a generalization of the models of plane current sheets that have been
proposed earlier in order to describe the structure of the current sheet in the magnetotail of the
Earth [1, 2]. The model takes centrifugal force, which is induced by the corotation electric
field, and the azimuthal magnetic field into account. The configurations of the magnetic field
lines for the isothermic (plasma temperature assumed to be constant) and the isentropic (plasma
entropy assumed to be constant) models of the magnetodisk are deter- mined. The dependence of the
thickness of the magnetodisk on the distance to Jupiter is obtained. The thick- ness of the
magnetodisk and the magnetic field distribution in the isothermic and isentropic models are sim-
ilar. The inclusion of a low background plasma pressure results in a considerable reduction in the
thickness of the magnetodisk. This effect may be attributed to the fact that centrifugal force
prevails over the pressure gra- dient at large distances from the planet. The mechanism of unipolar
induction and the related large-scale cur- rent system are analyzed. The direct and return
Birkeland currents are determined in the approximation of a weak azimuthal magnetic field. The
modeling results agree with theoretical estimates from other studies and
experimental data.