Magnetic field reconnection patterns at the dayside magnetopause: An MHD simulation study

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA01423· OSTI ID:5813037

Shi, Y; Lee, L C ^[1]; Wu, C C ^[2]

---

1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks (United States)
2. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

Magnetic field configurations associated with dayside reconnection are studied by a global two-dimensional incompressible MHD simulation. Possible dayside reconnection patterns revealed in the simulation include magnetic field configurations associated with steady state single X line reconnection, impulsive multiple X line reconnection, and bursty single X line reconnection. Three physical parameters, the global magnetic Reynolds number R{sub m}, the critical current density J{sub c} for the resistivity enhancement, and the solar wind Alfven Mach number M{sub Asw}, are found to be the most important parameters in determining the reconnection pattern. First, it is found that single X line reconnection tends to occur for small R{sub m} (< 100) and multiple X line reconnection takes place for large R{sub m} (> 200). Second, in the presence of a current-dependent resistivity and large R{sub m}, various patterns of multiple X line reconnection are observed. Third, for a large M{sub Asw}, dayside reconnection tends to occur in the high-latitude region. It is found in particular that multiple X line reconnection can indeed generate the primary flux transfer event signature, i.e., the bipolar pulse of normal magnetic field component. In addition, at the trailing edge of the bipolar pulses, enhanced plasma speed is observed in the simulation.

• DOE Contract Number: FG06-86ER13530
• OSTI ID: 5813037
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 96:A10; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CURRENT DENSITY
FLUID MECHANICS
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
HYDRODYNAMICS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MACH NUMBER
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETIC REYNOLDS NUMBER
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MECHANICS
REYNOLDS NUMBER
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
VELOCITY