Laboratory investigation of boundary layer processes due to strong spatial inhomogeneity

Laboratory experiments have been conducted to simulate the dynamics of highly localized magnetospheric boundary layers. These regions, such as the plasma sheet boundary layer and the magnetopause, are primary regions of solar wind mass, energy, and momentum transport into the near-Earth space environment. During periods of solar activity, the boundary layers can become compressed to scale lengths less than an ion gyroradius. Theoretical predictions indicate that the plasma can respond to relax these highly stressed conditions through the generation of instabilities in the lower hybrid frequency range. The experiments reported here document the characteristics of waves associated with these instabilities.