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The Three Dimensional Non-conforming Finite Element Solution of the Chapman–Ferraro Problem

1999; Elsevier BV; Volume: 150; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1006/jcph.1999.6206

1090-2716

Petr Klouček, F. Toffoletto,

Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies

We demonstrate the feasibility of using a non-conforming, piecewise harmonic finite element method on an unstructured grid in solving a magnetospheric physics problem. We use this approach to construct a global discrete model of the magnetic field of the magnetosphere that includes the effects of shielding currents at the outer boundary (the magnetopause). As in the approach of F. R. Toffolettoet al.(1994,Geophys. Res. Lett.21, 7) the internal magnetospheric field model is that of R. V. Hilmer and G.-H. Voigt (1995,J. Geophys. Res.) while the magnetopause shape is based on an empirically determined approximation (1997, J. Shueet al.,J. Geophys. Res.102, 9497). The results is a magnetic field model whose field lines are completely confined within the magnetosphere. The presented numerical results indicate that the discrete non-conforming finite element model is well-suited for magnetospheric field modeling.