Microphysics of the magnetotail reconnection region

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Adv. Space Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-1177(84)90343-0· OSTI ID:5548585

Terasawa, T

Theories of the tearing mode instability and its implications for the reconnection process in the magnetotail are reviewed. It is shown that in the thin plasma sheet whose width is comparable to the ion inertial length, the Hall current effect is important. The Hall current effect has not been taken into account so far in the collisionless tearing mode theory. It is argued that the previous collisionless tearing mode theory would not be complete, since the neglect of the Hall current effect leads to an artificial exclusion of the vorticity excitation term from the basic governing equations of the instability. 23 references.

• Research Organization: Tokyo Univ., Japan
• OSTI ID: 5548585
• Journal Information: Adv. Space Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Adv. Space Res.; (United States) Vol. 4; ISSN ASRSD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
HALL EFFECT
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETOTAIL
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
TEARING INSTABILITY