Auroral Formation and Plasma Interaction Between Magnetized Objects Simulated With the Planeterrella

The Planeterrella is a space plasma simulator, based on Kristian Birkeland's historical experiment, the “Terrella.” This device not only makes it possible to simulate interactions between an electrode and a magnetized sphere in many different geometries but also to simulate interactions between two magnetized spheres. Such configurations allow the visualization of phenomena unknown to Birkeland, such as an emitting body (Io) immersed in a magnetosphere (Jupiter) or the aurora on the night side of a planet where one magnetic pole points toward the Sun (Uranus).