Modeling the Impact of Metallic Ion Layers on Equatorial Spread With SAMI3/ESF

<p>The impact of <img alt="urn:x-wiley:grl:media:grl60258:grl60258-math-0005" class="section_image" src="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/38952148-1563-4f86-838d-e25b928c648c/grl60258-math-0005.png" /> region metal ion layers on the development of equatorial plasma bubbles is investigated using the SAMI3/ESF model. We find that metal ion layers reduce the growth rate of the generalized Rayleigh-Taylor instability (GRTI) and act to suppress the development of equatorial plasma bubbles. This is consistent with theoretical expectations and observations and is attributed to the increase in both the Pedersen and Hall conductances. Additionally, inhomogeneities in the <img alt="urn:x-wiley:grl:media:grl60258:grl60258-math-0006" class="section_image" src="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/0aef8b68-ae35-4ddd-acd8-345d02281483/grl60258-math-0006.png" /> region metal ion layer can map into the <img alt="urn:x-wiley:grl:media:grl60258:grl60258-math-0007" class="section_image" src="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/f73d0984-e38e-4adc-a30e-6cd571ef41c2/grl60258-math-0007.png" /> layer and alter the morphology of equatorial spread <img alt="urn:x-wiley:grl:media:grl60258:grl60258-math-0008" class="section_image" src="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/1838fc9a-d118-445c-9d84-dad20e8be323/grl60258-math-0008.png" /> (ESF) bubble evolution. Lastly, we find that if EFS bubbles develop in the presence of a metal ion layer, then the electric fields generated by the instability can lift the metal ions into the <img alt="urn:x-wiley:grl:media:grl60258:grl60258-math-0009" class="section_image" src="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/8c415ee0-65ec-48ad-a548-e77bb92c6f84/grl60258-math-0009.png" /> region. This is consistent with observations of Fe <img alt="urn:x-wiley:grl:media:grl60258:grl60258-math-0010" class="section_image" src="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/05049ccf-b337-49f1-888b-56e9949af380/grl60258-math-0010.png" /> in the <img alt="urn:x-wiley:grl:media:grl60258:grl60258-math-0011" class="section_image" src="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/fd00fa0c-79bb-4d54-ba48-e9cc68e1c854/grl60258-math-0011.png" /> region during equatorial spread <img alt="urn:x-wiley:grl:media:grl60258:grl60258-math-0012" class="section_image" src="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/6c7c08af-57cd-4305-a90f-bc9fa1c02819/grl60258-math-0012.png" />.</p>