Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufmsm43a1745m&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #SM43A-1745
Physics
Plasma Physics
[2744] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetotail, [2790] Magnetospheric Physics / Substorms, [7835] Space Plasma Physics / Magnetic Reconnection
Scientific paper
A current disruption and dipolarization scenario associated with island coalescences in the near-Earth region is proposed. The thin and elongated current-sheet built-up during the growth phase is unstable due to a tearing mode instability that leads to formation of multiple magnetic islands (or magnetic flux ropes in the three dimensional case) in the near-Earth region. The growth rate of the tearing mode should be different in different locations because the rate is in general determined by the external driving force and the local plasma sheet properties. When the rate of the magnetic reconnection in the mid-tail region around 20 RE is much larger than that in other locations, the strong bulk earthward flows resulted from the fast reconnection in the mid-tail drive the earthward convection and the coalescence of the magnetic islands. Consequently, the cross-tail current in the near-Earth region is suddenly disrupted and the geometry of the magnetic field changes from tail-like to dipolar-like in the ideal time scale. This proposed scenario is tested by Hall MHD simulation and is compared with observations.
No associations
LandOfFree
An island coalescence scenario for the near-Earth current disruption in the magnetotail 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 An island coalescence scenario for the near-Earth current disruption in the magnetotail, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and An island coalescence scenario for the near-Earth current disruption in the magnetotail will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1880512