Wiggs, Josh and Arridge, Chris (2021) JERICHO: a Kinetic-Ion, Fluid-Electron Hybrid Plasma Model for the Outer Planets. In: Autumn MIST Meeting 2021, 2021-11-25 - 2021-11-26.
Abstract
Plasma in the Jovian magnetosphere is removed from Io's torus mainly via bulk transport into sink regions in the outer magnetosphere and by ejection as energetic neutrals. The physical process generally considered to be responsible for bulk transport is the centrifugal-interchange instability. This mechanism allows magnetic flux tubes containing hot, tenuous plasma to exchange places with tubes containing cool, dense plasma, moving material from the inner to outer magnetosphere whilst returning magnetic flux to the inner magnetosphere. In order to examine the transport we have developed a full hybrid kinetic-ion, fluid-electron plasma model in 2.5-dimensions, JERICHO. The technique of hybrid modelling allows for probing of plasma motions from the scale of planetary-radii down to the ion-inertial length scale, considering constituent ion species kinetically as charged particles and forming the electrons into a single magnetised fluid continuum. Results from this model will allow for the examination of bulk transport on spatial scales not currently accessible with state-of-the-art models, improving understanding of mechanisms responsible for moving particles between flux tubes and from the inner to the outer magnetosphere. In this presentation we will examine the structure of the model logic and numerics before analysing the latest results from the model.