An investigation of the structure of rotational discontinuities

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/90GL02436· OSTI ID:5257969

Goodrich, C C; Cargill, P J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Maryland, College Park (United States)

The structure of rotational discontinuities (RDs) has been studied through hybrid simulations for a range of propagation angle {Theta}{sub bn} between the discontinuity normal and the upstream magnetic field and plasma {beta}. For sufficiently narrow initial states, the simulations produce quasi-steady reverse rotation magnetic field structures for 30{degree} {le} {Theta}{sub bn} {le} 60{degree} and 0 < {beta} {le} 1 on a time scale of roughly 200 {Omega}{sub i}{sup {minus}1}. This structure is characterized by a right handed field rotation upstream joined smoothly to a left handed field rotation downstream; its width decreases from 60-70 c/{omega}{sub pi} at {Theta}{sub bn} = 30{degree} to less than 25 c/{omega}{sub pi} at {Theta}{sub bn} = 60{degree}. The magnetic field hodograms of the RD results have a distinctive S-shape which is most pronounced in simulations with small {Theta}{sub bn} and initially right handed rotations. The reverse rotation structure is the net result of the expansion of the initial current layer via the fast and intermediate wave modes.

• OSTI ID: 5257969
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 18:1; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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