Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
May 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009georl..3609108p&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 36, Issue 9, CiteID L09108
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
13
Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetic Reconnection (7526, 7835), Solar Physics, Astrophysics, And Astronomy: Magnetic Reconnection (2723, 7835), Interplanetary Physics: Solar Wind Plasma
Scientific paper
A survey of Wind and ACE data has been performed to address the generality of previous reports of extremely extended reconnection X-lines in the solar wind. We have studied 51 events in which both Wind and ACE detected the same solar wind current sheets and one of the spacecraft observed a reconnection exhaust. In 50 of the 51 events, the other spacecraft also observed essentially the same reconnection signatures, and all but one of the jets pointed in the same direction at both spacecraft. In 7 of these cases, the X-line extended more than 100 Earth radii (or 104 ion skin depths). Our findings strongly indicate that reconnection X-lines in large-scale current sheets (with magnetic shear >˜70°) are fundamentally extended, and not patchy and randomly distributed in space. Finally, the extended reconnecting current sheets are typically highly planar, indicating no significant current sheet warping associated with the reconnection process.
Davis Stacey M.
Gosling Jack T.
Phan Tai-Duc
No associations
LandOfFree
Prevalence of extended reconnection X-lines in the solar wind at 1 AU does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Prevalence of extended reconnection X-lines in the solar wind at 1 AU, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Prevalence of extended reconnection X-lines in the solar wind at 1 AU will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-810143