Three dimensional computations of the dynamics of the magnetopause: First results

Dynamics of magnetopause related to plasma transport from the interplanetary medium into the magnetosphere is studied. Flux transfer events (FTE) signatures indicate the presence of magnetic reconnection localized in space and time. Dynamical evolution of FTE is described as a three dimensional nonlinear problem. Thus a 3D resistive MHD code is developed considering first a one dimensional initial state with antiparallel magnetic fields and then a one dimensional state with magnetic shear. Density, temperature, and magnetic pressure are chosen to be symmetric to the plane of the magnetopause layer.