Numerical simulations of the plasmaspheric wind, based on the interchange instability mechanism

Interchange motion was originally introduced in magnetospheric physics by Gold (1959) half a century ago. Various subsequent interpretations, formulations and studies have been proposed since; they are comprehensively introduced and outlined in the History document.

Experimental confirmation of the plasmaspheric wind phenomenon has been obtained in July 2013, using Cluster CIS observations by Iannis Dandouras, 20 years after its theoretical prediction by Lemaire and Schunk (1992).

The animations illustrate the different classes of interchange and quasi-interchange motion that plasma elements (ions and electrons) can experience in a dipole magnetic field. At initial time all plasma elements are distributed along segments of dipole magnetic field lines. More detailed explanations on the mechanism, as well as references are available on the Read Me document.
Different modes of MHD oscillations modes and expansion flows (including the plasmaspheric wind flow) are displayed in five animations which are described in more details in the Descriptions document.
Different cases of Interchange and Quasi-Interchange modes (types 1 and 2) are displayed in the 5 animations.

Data and Resources

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Cite this as (APA format)

Lemaire, J. F., & Darrouzet, F. (2025). Numerical simulations of the plasmaspheric wind, based on the interchange instability mechanism (Version 1). Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy. https://doi.org/10.18758/CO2EIXY9
Retrieved: 20:45 06 Feb 2026 (UTC)
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Author(s)
Principal

Lemaire, Joseph F.orcid, Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
Other(s)

Darrouzet, Fabienorcid, Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy;
Contact data-contact of Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy

Technical info
Is referenced by
Documentation

https://plasmasphere.aeronomie.be

Temporal features

Additional info
Repository homepage

https://data.aeronomie.be/dataset/
Last Updated

October 3, 2025
Created

September 16, 2025

Spatial features