TY - JOUR

T1 - Magnetic reconnection

T2 - Observations on October 29, 1979, and model results

AU - Biernat, H. K.

AU - Semenov, V. S.

AU - Drobysh, O. A.

AU - Heyn, M. F.

PY - 1998/1/1

Y1 - 1998/1/1

N2 - We discuss the structure of the reconnection layer as recorded by ISEE 2 during an outbound crossing of the dayside, northern magnetopause on October 29, 1979. Besides a rotational discontinuity, this crossing shows slow mode shock structure. We interpret this event theoretically in terms of magnetic field line reconnection based on a pulse-like Petschek-type model, rather than in terms of steady state reconnection on a moving magnetopause. Our model is generalized through the introduction of a space- and time-varying reconnection rate. Furthermore, the magnetic fields and velocities on either side of the magnetopause current sheet may have arbitrary strength and orientation with respect to each other; additionally, the densities on either side of the current sheet may be different in general. Using boundary/initial conditions from the spacecraft data, we calculate the temporal/spatial behavior of all reconnection-associated structures. In particular, having chosen a suitable trajectory through the magnetopause, we consider the temporal behavior of the magnetic field and plasma parameters as these reconnection-associated events pass by. The results reproduce the behavior of the data reasonably well.

AB - We discuss the structure of the reconnection layer as recorded by ISEE 2 during an outbound crossing of the dayside, northern magnetopause on October 29, 1979. Besides a rotational discontinuity, this crossing shows slow mode shock structure. We interpret this event theoretically in terms of magnetic field line reconnection based on a pulse-like Petschek-type model, rather than in terms of steady state reconnection on a moving magnetopause. Our model is generalized through the introduction of a space- and time-varying reconnection rate. Furthermore, the magnetic fields and velocities on either side of the magnetopause current sheet may have arbitrary strength and orientation with respect to each other; additionally, the densities on either side of the current sheet may be different in general. Using boundary/initial conditions from the spacecraft data, we calculate the temporal/spatial behavior of all reconnection-associated structures. In particular, having chosen a suitable trajectory through the magnetopause, we consider the temporal behavior of the magnetic field and plasma parameters as these reconnection-associated events pass by. The results reproduce the behavior of the data reasonably well.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0012391057&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0012391057

VL - 103

SP - 11919

EP - 11927

JO - Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences

JF - Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences

SN - 0148-0227

IS - A6

M1 - 98JA00587

ER -