MHD simulations of the plasma and neutral gas environment of comet 67P

May 14, 2016·
Nicolas Fougere
Nicolas Fougere
,
Huang et al
· 0 min read
Image credit: Huang et al. 2016
Abstract
The neutral and plasma environment is critical in understanding the interaction of the solar wind and comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (CG), the target of the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission. To serve this need and support the Rosetta mission, we have developed a 3-D four-fluid model, which is based on BATS-R-US (Block-Adaptive Tree Solarwind Roe-type Upwind Scheme) within SWMF (Space Weather Modeling Framework) that solves the governing multifluid MHD equations and the Euler equations for the neutral gas fluid. These equations describe the behavior and interactions of the cometary heavy ions, the solar wind protons, the electrons, and the neutrals. This model incorporates different mass loading processes, including photoionization and electron impact ionization, charge exchange, dissociative ion-electron recombination, and collisional interactions between different fluids. We simulated the plasma and neutral gas environment near perihelion in three different cases an idealized comet with a spherical body and uniform neutral gas outflow, an idealized comet with a spherical body and illumination-driven neutral gas outflow, and comet CG with a realistic shape model and illumination-driven neutral gas outflow. We compared the results of the three cases and showed that the simulations with illumination-driven neutral gas outflow have magnetic reconnection, a magnetic pileup region and nucleus directed plasma flow inside the nightside reconnection region, which have not been reported in the literature.
Type
Publication
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 121
Status
Peer-reviewed Open access
publications
Space Sciences Magnetoydrodynamics (MHD) CFD
Nicolas Fougere
Authors
Nicolas Fougere (he/him)
Senior Portfolio Manager

Nicolas Fougere is a technology leader with experience helping global industrial organizations accelerate innovation through digital engineering and transformation. As a Senior Portfolio Manager at Dassault Systèmes, he works with manufacturers and technology leaders to develop strategies around virtual twins, simulation, systems engineering, and AI.

Before joining the private sector, Nicolas contributed to scientific research supporting NASA and the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission and authored numerous peer-reviewed publications. He holds advanced engineering and scientific degrees from the University of Michigan.

Nicolas is passionate about connecting technology, business strategy, and customer success to help organizations solve complex challenges, build high-performing teams, and create lasting business value.