Generation of field-aligned currents and Alfven waves by 3D magnetic reconnection

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/95GL01430· OSTI ID:250027

Ma, Z W; Lee, L C; Otto, A ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States)

The authors have carried out a three-dimensional compressible MHD simulation to study the generation of field-aligned currents (FAC`s) and Alfven waves by magnetic reconnection for locally antiparallel magnetic fields across the current sheet. Reconnection is triggered by a localized resistivity. The results indicate that both FAC`s and Alfven waves are generated by the three-dimensional reconnection process. Two pairs of FAC`s are generated on each side of current sheet. The polarities of the resulting FAC pair in the leading bulge region are opposite to those of a FAC pair in the trailing quasi-steady region. It is further found that a large portion of the FAC`s ({approximately}40%) is located in the closed field line region. They examine the Walen relation between FAC and parallel vorticity and find that Alfven waves are generated and propagate away from the reconnection site. They discuss the relevance of the results to the observed Region 1 FAC`s at noon. 15 refs., 4 figs.

• OSTI ID: 250027
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 22; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOPAUSE