Numerical simulation of the dayside reconnection

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA088iA09p06926· OSTI ID:5470661

Hoshino, M; Nishida, A

To examine the basic characteristics of reconnection of the dayside magnetopause, we have numerically studied the reconnection process at an interface where the total pressure is in balance but where the thermal pressure is higher on one side than on the other. Reconnection is caused by anomalous resistivity that is assumed to operate only in a localized region at the interface. Boundaries are assumed to be free boundaries, but reflection of the perturbations originating from inside the simulation region is suppressed by placement of an absorbing region. Results can be expressed as follows, denoting the high-pressure and low-pressure regions as magnetosheath and magnetosphere, respectively. (1) a slow shock is formed in magnetosheath and a slow expansion fan is formed in magnetosphere; (2) at the slow shock the Lorentz force and pressure gradient are of comparable importance in accelerating plasma, but at the expansion fan the pressure gradient has the dominant effect, and (3) the acceleration depends on the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and when the reconnection line is assumed to be directed at the half angle (theta/2) between IMF and geomagnetic field, the velocity of the accelerated plasma is roughly proportional to sin/sup 2/(theta/2)+sin/sup 3/(theta/2).

• Research Organization: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
• OSTI ID: 5470661
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 88:A9; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
EXPANSION
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
LORENTZ FORCE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSHEATH
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PLASMA EXPANSION
PLASMA SIMULATION
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION