3D hybrid simulations of self-consistent IP shocks and their interaction with Earth

Interplanetary shocks are ubiquitous in the heliosphere in relation or not with solar events such as Stream Interaction Regions and Coronal Mass Ejections. However, their interactions with planetary environments remain poorly understood. 

In this study, we performed hybrid-PIC simulations of the interaction between interplanetary shocks and a realistic near-Earth environment system. We firstly focused on two aspects: (i) the self-consistent generation of a realistic bow shock–magnetosheath–magnetopause system, and (ii) a stand-alone analysis of the self-consistent evolution of a high-speed stream throughout an interplanetary medium in different scenarios. The latter included quasi-perpendicular, quasi-parallel, and Parker spiral-based scenarios, in order to highlight their profoundly diverse dynamics, as well as the possible formation of large upstream instabilities, such as foreshocks.

Finally, we present preliminary findings on the interaction between the realistic near-Earth environment and an interplanetary shock-front and shock-sheath in a quasi-perpendicular scenario.