This project will extend previous work on ion orbit tracing to examine the condition and stability for thin current sheets. The calculations are fully three dimensional and realistic geomagnetic field models are used. A realistic electric field model will be added in this further development. The focus will be on the current sheet in the geomagnetic tail. Specific topics for investigation will include the transfer of kinetic energy between thermal and bulk flow forms, the possibility of defining and equation of state, heat fluxes, and the work done by particle and electromagnetic forces. Detailed comparison of calculated distribution functions with satellite observations from several satellite missions is proposed.
