A theory of patchy and intermettent reconnections for magnetospheric flux transfer events

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA093iA06p05613· OSTI ID:5222808

Kan, J R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks (USA)

The author proposes that the elbow-shaped flux transfer events (FTEs) of Russell and Elphic (1979) are initiated by a specific normal mode of three-dimensional tearing of magnetopause current sheet, resulting in a three-dimensional component reconnection driven by the solar wind. The patchy nature of the proposed three-dimensional tearing reconnection is determined by the structure of the three-dimensional tearing on the dayside magnetopause, leading to isolated reconnection sites; the intermittent nature is governed externally by the fluctuation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and internally regulated by the ionosphere line-tying effect. The proposed 3 DT reconnection can occur simultaneously with the single x line intermittent or quasi-steady reconnection if the IMF drapes over the dayside magnetopause, which takes place when the solar wind speed exceeds the MHD fast-mode speed. Magnetic field signatures of the 3DT reconnection are consistent with the elbow-shaped FTE signatures. Electric fields associated with the elbow-shaped FTEs can be expected to be spiky, peaking near the center of the localized FTE reconnection sites. The spiky electric field of FTEs is expected to produce channels of enhanced magnetospheric convection. The observed multiple field-aligned current sheets and auroral arcs fanning out from the cusp region along enhanced convection channels can be expected as consequences of the proposed 3DT reconnection on the dayside magnetopause. The polar cap potential due to the elbow-shaped FTEs is predicted to have a dependence on the IMF polar angle somewhat different from that of the single x line reconnection.

• OSTI ID: 5222808
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 93:A6; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
CONVECTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
INSTABILITY
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOPAUSE
MASS TRANSFER
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
POLAR CUSP
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
TEARING INSTABILITY
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS