Annual report - 2009
Wed, 2010-04-21 13:51, František Fárník
Kinetic processes in the solar wind, Mercury's magnetosheath and magnetosphere
Reported period : 2009
In year 2009, after preliminary studies, we have fully focused on attainment of proposed goals of our project. Main objectives include 3D hybrid modeling of the solar wind interaction with the hermean magnetosphere and high resolution 2D and 3D analysis of wave-particle interactions at bow shock, magnetopause and polar regions. Simulation results will be later used for comparison with real MPPC data from the BepiColombo mission. Basic model of the interaction between the solar wind and a planetary magnetosphere has been already developed in previous years within ESA funding program (contracts PRODEX No. 14529: and PECS No. 98024). In this year, the model was further enhanced and we have tested its capabilities to resolve important kinetic effects such as kinetic plasma instabilities. We have performed several case studies of the interaction between solar wind and a small magnetosphere for different configurations of the interplanetary magnetic field. Simulated results have been consequently used by NASA to interpret in situ measurements acquired by MESSENGER spacecraft in the hearmean magnetosphere. In addition to several other scientific papers, the most important results have been published in the prestigious journal Science. These results were also presented at several international meetings.
Essential for our project is a close collaboration with Czech industrial partner, SPRINX Systems. Within previous projects we have jointly designed and developed a high-performance facility Amalka specifically configured for numerical studies of phenomena in collisionless plasmas. Currently we cooperate with SPRINX Systems company on development of a set of tools for processing and visualization of simulated data. Resulting Virtual Mission Laboratory (VML) will serve as a front-end web portal application providing an easy access to both public and non-public simulation and measurement data available in the database. First prototype is almost prepared for testing phase which will start in 2010.
Essential for our project is a close collaboration with Czech industrial partner, SPRINX Systems. Within previous projects we have jointly designed and developed a high-performance facility Amalka specifically configured for numerical studies of phenomena in collisionless plasmas. Currently we cooperate with SPRINX Systems company on development of a set of tools for processing and visualization of simulated data. Resulting Virtual Mission Laboratory (VML) will serve as a front-end web portal application providing an easy access to both public and non-public simulation and measurement data available in the database. First prototype is almost prepared for testing phase which will start in 2010.
