M. Oppenheim, L. Dyrud, A. vom Endt, R. Putnam, R. Gasser, and E. Brisson
The animations below show simulations of ion densities (log scale in density) as they evolve over time from a meteor path. This meteor path is perpendicular to the geomagnetic field, B, and the simulation includes a 5mV/m electric field pointing along the trail axis. The simulations, which are periodic in all three dimensions, start with a column of plasma 60 times the background density. The trail widens faster along B than perpendicular to it and develops regions of depleted density surrounding the meteor and along B. The waves which can be seen developing are of great interest since they make the meteor visible to radars (and enhance diffusion perpendicular to B).
Front View Close-up (69 MB WMV)