Polar Cap O+ Ion Outflow and Its Impact on Magnetospheric Dynamics

Abstract

Polar cap ion outflow plays an important role in the dynamics of the coupled solar-wind–magnetosphere-ionosphere system. These ionospheric-sourced outflow populations are largely driven by multiscale electromagnetic and precipitating particle energy deposition from the interaction between the solar wind, magnetosphere, and ionosphere. The polar cap O + ion outflow impacts magnetospheric dynamics through mass loading of the magnetosphere, which influences the process of magnetic reconnection. On the dayside, ionospheric O + outflows impact the local magnetic reconnection rate, which may also cause system-level reconfiguration of the solar-wind–magnetosphere interactions. On the nightside, O + outflows impact the location and strength of magnetotail reconnection, which may induce significant changes in the mode of magnetospheric convection. Ionospheric ion outflow are thus important parts in integrated multiphysics modeling of the geospace environment, especially for space-weather research and applications.