Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004agufmsm53b0418x&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2004, abstract #SM53B-0418
Physics
Plasma Physics
7835 Magnetic Reconnection, 2744 Magnetotail, 2764 Plasma Sheet
Scientific paper
Magnetic reconnection (MR) is the process by which the magnetic field topology changes, accompanying with release and conversion of magnetic energy into kinetic and thermal energy of plasmas. MR occurs in the small localized diffusion region, its global consequence plays a central role in solar wind-magnetosphere interactions. For more than 30 years MR has been the most challenging frontier of space plasma physics. One of unsolved key questions concerns the physics and spatial scales of the diffusion region. Until recently in situ observations of MR have all been taken outside the diffusion region. Measurements inside the diffusion region would help to test and develop the models and theories of reconnection. Four spacecraft Cluster mission provides a unique opportunity to detect small-scale structures in three dimensions in space, including MR area. In the present paper a comprehensive study on the diffusion region in the magnetotail for a typical MR event (09-15-2001) is carried out with the Cluster multiple satellite data. The following new results from this case study are obtained: 1. The magnetic field topology change across the neutral point is observed by simultaneous measurements of 4 Cluster spacecraft. The related plasma flow reversals and the distinct quadrupolar Hall magnetic field components are clearly identified. 2. The thickness of the tail current sheet in the tail is best fitted as Lz=1.3di (di stands for the ion inertial length) based on Cluster multiple-point high resolution (0.05s) magnetic field measurements; the scale length of the diffusion region in the x-direction is determined to be Lx=3.7-5.0di. 3. The MR separatrix angle ¦E is derived to be 15<¦E<20. The reconnection rate is estimated to be R=0.09-0.12. 4. Energization of energetic ions and electrons is found during the diffusion region crossing. The lower hybrid waves are detected in the vicinity of the diffusion region.
Balogh André
Fu Siqi
Glassmeier K.-
Gustafsson Georg
Huang Zhongbing
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