A numerical model was developed to understand the time evolution of a wake structure around a CubeSat moving in a plasma with transonic speed. A cubeSat operates in the F2 layer of ionosphere with an altitude of 300 − 600 Km. The average plasma density varies between 10−6cm−3 − 10−9cm−3 and the temperature of ions and electrons is found between 0.1−0.2 eV. The study of a wake structure can provide insights for its effects on the measurements obtained from space instruments. The CubeSat is modeled to have a metal surface, which is a realistic assumption, with a negative electric potential. To solve the equations of plasma, the numerical difference equations were obtained by discretizing the fluid equations of the plasma along with nonlinear Poisson’s equation. The electrons were assumed to follow the Boltzmann’s relation and the dynamics of ions was followed using the fluid equations. The initial and boundary conditions for the evolution of the structure are discussed. The computation was compared to the analytical solution for a 1D problem before being applied to the 2D model. There was a good agreement between the numerical and analytical solution. In the 2D simulation, we observe the formation of plasma wake structure around the CubeSat. The plasma wake structure consists of rarefaction region where ion density and ion velocity decreases compared to the initial density and velocity.

<p>A numerical simulation case involving space plasma and the evolution of instabilities that generates very fast electrons, i.e. approximately at half of the speed of light, is used as a test bed for scientific visualisation techniques. A visualisation system was developed to provide interactive real-time animation and visualisation of the simulation results. The work focuses on two themes and the integration of them. The first theme is the storage and management of the large data sets produced. The second theme deals with how the Visualisation System and Visual Objects are tailored to efficiently visualise the data at hand. </p><p>The integration of the themes has resulted in an interactive real-time animation and visualisation system which constitutes a very powerful tool for analysis and understanding of the plasma physics processes. The visualisations contained in this work have spawned many new possible research projects and provided insight into previously not fully understood plasma physics phenomena.</p>

A numerical simulation case involving space plasma and the evolution of instabilities that generates very fast electrons, i.e. approximately at half of the speed of light, is used as a test bed for scientific visualisation techniques. A visualisation system was developed to provide interactive real-time animation and visualisation of the simulation results. The work focuses on two themes and the integration of them. The first theme is the storage and management of the large data sets produced. The second theme deals with how the Visualisation System and Visual Objects are tailored to efficiently visualise the data at hand. The integration of the themes has resulted in an interactive real-time animation and visualisation system which constitutes a very powerful tool for analysis and understanding of the plasma physics processes. The visualisations contained in this work have spawned many new possible research projects and provided insight into previously not fully understood plasma physics phenomena.