Unipolar induction as the origin of generation of electric fields and currents in plasmaspheres of planets

We study the generation of plasmaspheric electric fields and currents caused by differential rotation of inhomogeneously conducting plasma envelope together with a magnetized planet (a planetary generator model). The solution of the first considered model problem describing a plasmasphere flow with a discontinuity in the angular rotation velocity reveals that regions of strongly non-uniform rotation of a plasma envelope play an essential role in the generation of currents in the plasmasphere. Within the framework of the second problem we analyze the planetary generator operation under the conditions of the Earth's plasmasphere. The approximation of an abrupt decrease of the effective conductivity at ionospheric heights is used. The calculation results compared to experimental data show that the considered mechanism of current generation may be important when analyzing current systems in lower layers of the Earth's ionosphere.