Super-Alfvénic propagation of reconnection signatures and Poynting flux during substorms

Details Super-Alfvénic propagation of reconnection signatures and Poynting flux during substorms Super-Alfvénic propagation of reconnection signatures and Poynting flux during substorms

2011-04-05

arxiv.org/abs/1104.0922v1

Physics

Plasma Physics

Submitted to PRL on 11/1/2010. Resubmitted on 4/5/2011

Scientific paper

The propagation of reconnection signatures and their associated energy are examined using kinetic particle-in-cell simulations and Cluster satellite observations. It is found that the quadrupolar out-of-plane magnetic field near the separatrices is associated with a kinetic Alfv\'en wave. For magnetotail parameters, the parallel propagation of this wave is super-Alfv\'enic (V_parallel ~ 1500 - 5500 km/s) and generates substantial Poynting flux (S ~ 10^-5 - 10^-4 W/m^2) consistent with Cluster observations of magnetic reconnection. This Poynting flux substantially exceeds that due to frozen-in ion bulk outflows and is sufficient to generate white light aurora in the Earth's ionosphere.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Super-Alfvénic propagation of reconnection signatures and Poynting flux during substorms 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 Super-Alfvénic propagation of reconnection signatures and Poynting flux during substorms, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Super-Alfvénic propagation of reconnection signatures and Poynting flux during substorms will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-321921