Expansion of a plasma cloud into the solar wind

Three-dimensional hybrid particle-in-cell simulations, with kinetic ions and fluid electrons, of a plasma cloud expansion in the solar wind are presented, revealing the dynamics of the expansion, with shock formation, magnetic field compression, and solar wind ion deflection around the plasma bubble. The similarities of this system with a magnetosphere are also pointed out. Index Terms--Diamagnetic cavities, magnetospheres, solar wind interaction.