Earthward plasma flow during near-earth magnetotail reconnection: Numerical simulations
Magnetic field configuration and flow pattern during near-Earth reconnection are studied in a realistic two-dimensional magnetotail with two different MHD simulations: (1) reconnection is forced at a given location by a nonuniform external inflow from the high-latitude boundary and (2) reconnection is initiated at a given location by applying initially a small localized resistivity which is subsequently switched off. In both cases we found essentially the same sequence of events, namely, onset of reconnection, plasmoid formation and subsequent tailward motion of the plasmoid. We studied in detail the Earthward flow speed during the reconnection process. It is found that large and supersonic Earthward flows occur Earthward of the X point. However, these flows occur only in the central current sheet after the plasma sheet has been pinched off and ejected tailward as a plasmoid. At this time the plasma and field characteristics in the central current sheet are lobelike. The Earthward flow diverges around the plasma sheet and constitutes a boundary layer. The speed in the central part of the plasma sheet Earthward of the X point reaches maximum velocities up to 0.2 in dimensionless units for about 20 unit times. In dimensional units this corresponds to maximum velocities of about 70 km/s for about 6 min. copyright American Geophysical Union 1987
- Research Organization:
- Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik, Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Garching, Federal Republic of Germany
- OSTI ID:
- 5514037
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 92:A11; ISSN JGREA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BOUNDARY LAYERS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
FLUID MECHANICS
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
HYDRODYNAMICS
LATITUDE EFFECT
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOTAIL
MECHANICS
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA SHEET
PLASMA SIMULATION
SIMULATION
TIME DEPENDENCE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VARIATIONS