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P06: Comparative Studies of Planetary Magnetospheres
Sponsor: Planetary Sciences

CoSponsor: SPA-Magnetospheric Physics

Convener: Eun-Hwa Kim
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
  Princeton University
  P.O. Box 451
Princeton, NJ, USA  08543-0451
ehkim@pppl.gov

Peter J. Chi
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics /UCLA
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics
  University of California, Los Angeles
  6877 Slichter Hall
  595 Charles Young Dr. E.
Los Angeles, CA, USA  90095-1567
pchi@igpp.ucla.edu

Scott A. Boardsen
NASA GSFC/GEST
Heliophysics Science Divison, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,
  Code 674.0
Greenbelt, MD, USA  20771
scott.a.boardsen@nasa.gov

Peter Delamere
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
  CB 392 Duane Physics D133
Boulder, CO, USA  80309-0391
delamere@lasp.colorado.edu


2459 2700 2756 6200 .

Description: A number of solar system bodies have magnetospheres, and each presents a unique plasma environment around the body. The scaling relations can be tested over a much wider parameter range than that associated with the Earth alone. For example, the ratio between distances from the center of the planet to the subsolar point of magnetopause and the ion inertial length ranges from 85 for Mercury to 5800 for Jupiter. Comparison of Earth’s magnetosphere with other planets’ could provide more insights, such as the significance of kinetic effects, the dependence of the geometrical configuration of rotation axis, magnetic dipole, and solar wind flow direction. This session encompasses observations, theories and modeling of physical process in the magnetospheres of planets, moons, and comets. It also addresses, for any given body, the coupling processes between the magnetosphere and other regions (e.g., ionosphere, exosphere, and solar wind).

This session welcomes all presentations on planetary magnetospheres, including: (a) comparative approaches to a phenomenon occurring in different planetary plasma environments; (b) modeling of planetary magnetospheres; (c) simulations and observations of waves, instabilities, and reconnection; and (d) energy transfer between magnetospheres and other regions (e.g., ionosphere and solar wind). New experimental techniques and spacecraft observations are also encouraged.