Numerical simulations on the structure of plasmoids in the deep tail

Details Numerical simulations on the structure of plasmoids in the deep tail Numerical simulations on the structure of plasmoids in the deep tail

Sep 1987

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987georl..14..969h&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters (ISSN 0094-8276), vol. 14, Sept. 1987, p. 969-972.

Physics

20

Geomagnetic Tail, Magnetic Field Reconnection, Plasma Dynamics, Space Plasmas, Compressible Flow, Computerized Simulation, Magnetic Field Configurations

Scientific paper

A 2D resistive and compressible MHD code is used to study the formation and subsequent development of a plasmoid by near-earth reconnection. The initial equilibrium configuration is characterized by a distant neutral line at a position, where the pressure in the plasma sheet has a minimum. The resistivity is allowed to grow with the current density. Reconnection at a near-earth position is initiated by a small localized resistivity which is subsequently switched off. Fast reconnection develops self-consistently and leads to closed field lines in the plasma sheet. Eventually the field lines to the distant neutral line are reconnected, and the pinched-off plasma sheet moves downtail. Continuous reconnection leads to a layer of reconnected field lines around the plasmoid which are connected to interplanetary field lines. In the case of open top and bottom boundaries, secondary tearing leads to two near-earth neutral lines and the subsequent evolution of a second plasmoid. This can result in the figure-8 structure inferred from magnetic field data in the deep tail. A closed high latitude boundary inhibits the secondary tearing and the original plasmoid is more elongated as it is ejected down the tail.

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