Numerical Study of Inflation of a Dipolar Magnetic Field in Space by Plasma Jet Injection

A Magneto Plasma Sail (MPS) produces a propulsive force by the interaction between the solar wind and an artificial magnetic field inflated by a plasma jet injection. Using a 2D hybrid PIC simulation code, the parametric study of magnetic inflation by the plasma jet injection is performed under different realistic parameters in terms of plasma material (Ar/Xe) and injection direction. We evaluate the inflation of magnetic field when the plasma with same �in is injected into a dipole magnetic field generated by a superconducting coil; the plasma is injected within an angle of 30° into the polar direction and the equator direction. It is found that when the Ar plasma (�in = 5) is injected into the polar direction, the magnetic field decays in the polar direction according to B � r and when the Ar plasma (�in = 5) is injected into the equator direction, the magnetic field decays in the polar direction according to B � r.