Particle-in-cell simulations on the characteristics of dipole magnetic field confined plasma

The characteristics of plasma confined in a dipole magnetic field are an important issue in planetary magnetospheric plasma research, as well as in magnetic confined fusion. In this study, the particle-in-cell (PIC) method is employed to investigate the three-dimensional dynamical evolution of the plasma confined in a dipole magnetic field. This study focuses on the distribution of the plasma density, the magnetic field, the electrical field, as well as the plasma current, providing a visual plasma evolutionary process, which is helpful to obtain a deep understanding of plasma dynamics in the dipole magnetic fields. The results show that the plasmas are in a shell-like structure in the regions where the magnetic field lines are closed, which is similar to the plasma in the terrestrial space.