Physics
Scientific paper
May 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agusmsm51a..08h&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2008, abstract #SM51A-08
Physics
2723 Magnetic Reconnection (7526, 7835), 2740 Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics, 2760 Plasma Convection (2463), 2784 Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions, 7835 Magnetic Reconnection (2723, 7526)
Scientific paper
We report on a Cluster multi-spacecraft cusp observation lasting more than 100 minutes. We determine the cusp boundary motion and reveal the effect on the cusp size of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) changing from southward to northward. The cusp shrinks at the beginning of the IMF rotation and it re-expands at the rate of 0.50° ILAT per hour under stable northward IMF. Based on plasma signatures inside the cusp, such as counter-streaming electrons with balanced fluxes and quasi-periodic enhancement of ion fluxes with energy E>5keV, we propose that pulsed dual lobe reconnection operates during the time of interest. SC1 and SC4 observations suggest a long-term regular periodicity of the pulsed dual reconnection, which we estimate to be ~ 1-5 minutes. Further, the distances from the spacecraft to the reconnection site are estimated based on observations from three satellites. The distance determined using SC1 and SC4 observations is ~ 15 RE, and that determined from SC3 data is ~ 8 RE. The large-scale speed of the reconnection site sunward motion is ~ 16 km s-1. We observe also a fast motion of the reconnection site by SC1, which provides new information about the transitional phase after the IMF rotation. Finally, a statistical study of the dependency of plasma convection inside the cusp on the IMF clock angle is performed. The relationship between the cusp stagnation, the dual lobe reconnection process and the IMF clock angle is discussed.
Bogdanova Yulia V.
Fazakerley Andrew N.
Foullon Claire
Hu Rongwei
Owen Christopher J.
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