Global Hybrid Simulations of Solar Wind and Bow Shock Related Discontinuities Interacting with the Magnetosphere

Global hybrid (PIC ions, fluid electrons) simulations of the magnetosphere are used to investigate the interaction of intrinsic solar wind and bow shock-related discontinuities with the dayside magnetopause. Although ion kinetic processes often dominate these interactions, the consequences of the interactions are global. Hybrid simulations provide a unique map which can be used to select the proper spacecraft locations for multipoint studies. In general, the solar wind provides a variety of discontinuities. Some of these interact with the bow shock to form other structures and discontinuities such as hot flow anomalies (HFAs) in the foreshock. These secondary discontinuities can also interact with the magnetopause leading to perturbations in the magnetosphere. Even in the absence of solar wind discontinuities, dissipation processes related to the bow shock can introduce large scale structures, such as foreshock cavities, into the solar wind. These structures result in large variations in the properties of the magnetosheath impinging on the magnetopause. The results presented will address these various possibilities and their impacts on the dayside magnetopause.