Dynamics of a high energy plasma jet in space: In situ experiment and laboratory simulation

Abstract The Active Geophysical Rocket Experiment (AGRE) is a joint Russian/USA project whose objective is to investigate the dynamics of a plasma jet in space and attendant phenomena in the magnetosphere, ionosphere and atmosphere of the Earth. This project also includes a laboratory experiment designed to simulate the AGRE experiment. The results of the laboratory simulation show the important role of field-aligned current generation associated with plasma jet injections transverse to the magnetic field. It is found that field-aligned currents have an influence on the plasma jet dynamics, ambient ionosphere, and atmosphere.