Evolution of Interplanetary Small Magnetic Flux Ropes Across Earth's Bow Shock: Global Hybrid Modeling

Abstract Previous studies indicate that small magnetic flux ropes occupy ∼one third of solar‐wind intervals, yet their appearance in the magnetosheath remains unclear. We use the AuburN Global hybrid CodE in three Dimension (ANGIE3D) to investigate their evolution as they cross Earth's bow shock. We find that the ropes are compressed in the ram direction but retain their transverse dimensions. During shock crossing, backstreaming ions from the trailing edge of the flux rope produce foreshock signatures. In the magnetosheath, significant parallel temperature enhancement occurs within a thin layer on the flux rope's surface. From these results we derive observational signatures to aid identification of interplanetary SFRs in the magnetosheath. These results advance our understanding of coherent‐structure evolution and identification in magnetosheath.