Hybrid simulation of comet Shoemaker‐Levy 9 interaction with Jovian bow shock

The interaction of the solar wind with comet Shoemaker‐Levy 9 leading to the formation of the cometary magnetosphere and its interaction with the Jovian bow shock is simulated using a one dimensional hybrid code. The mass loading of the solar wind by the cometary ions leads to the formation of a bow shock behind which the plasma density is 2–3 cm−3 and the electron temperature is 4 eV. The interaction of this system with the Jovian bow shock yields local enhancements of the magnetic field and the plasma density by factors of 4‐5 and the electron temperature by 2‐3.