Modeling the Hydrogen-Proton Charge-Exchange Process in Global Heliospheric Simulations

Abstract:

The environment surrounding our Solar System has a vast and dynamic structure. As the Sun rounds
the Milky Way galaxy, interstellar dust and gas interact with the Sun's outflow of solar wind. A
bubble of hot plasma forms around the Sun due to this interaction, called the heliosphere. In order
to understand the structure of the heliosphere, observations and simulations must work in tandem.
Within the past decade or so, 3D models of the heliosphere have been developed exhibiting non-
symmmetric as well as predicting structures such as the hydrogen wall and the IBEX ribbon.

In this poster we explore new ways to compute charge-exchange source terms. The charge-exchange
process is the coupling mechanism between the MHD and kinetic theories. The understanding of this
process is crucial in order to make valuable predictions. Energy dependant cross section terms will
aid in settling non-linear affects coupling the intestellar and solar particles. Through these new
ways of computing source terms, resolving fine structures in the plasma in the heliopause may be
possible. In addition, other non-trivial situations, such as charge-exchange mediated shocks, may
be addressed.