The interactions of the solar wind with planetary magnetic fields: Basic principles and observations

A planetary magnetic field obstructs the supersonic expansion of the solar coronol ions and electrons and creates a cigar shaped bubble in the solar wind. The pressure of the solar wind on the bubble compresses and seriously distorts the planetary magnetic field. A review is given here of the theoretical calculation and experimental observation of the shape of the bubble and the configuration of the compressed magnetic field inside the surface. Other effects, namely the shock structure on the surface, the radiation belts, and the current in the antisolar side of the bubble are described as well as a simplified account of electric fields and the connection of the planetary field lines with interplanetary field lines.