INTERACTIONS BETWEEN A SOLAR-WIND FILAMENT AND AN OPEN MAGNETOSPHERE

In order to understand the interaction between a solar wind filament and an open magnetopause, a set of one- and two-dimensional simulations for the interaction are implemented. The magnetopause is assumed to have a dynamical structure which consists of a set of MHD waves, each of which evolves with time. The filament initially moves toward the magnetosphere. A fairly detailed picture for the interaction has been provided in this paper, The results of the simulations show that the filament may penetrate the compound structure of the magnetopause, across which the component of a magnetic field along the filament changes its direction, and may penetrate the contact discontinuity of the magnetopause. The normal component of the magnetic field is substantially increased behind the filament and decreased around the filament when the filament moves toward the magnetosphere.