Reconnection layer at the flank magnetopause in the presence of shear flow

Journal Article · Sun May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/94GL00704· OSTI ID:6518702

Lin, Y; Lee, L C ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States)

The authors present hybrid simulations of reconnection layer at the flank magnetopause, where a large plasma flow speed is present in the magnetosheath. It is found that there exists a threshold flow speed v* such that for the magnetosheath flow speed v[sub s] < v* (v[sub s] > v*), the rotational discontinuity with a larger field rotation angle exists on the magnetosheath (magnetospheric) side of the reconnection layer. The threshold speed is found to be v* = v[sub Am] - v[sub As], where v[sub Am] (v[sub As]) is the Alfven speed on the magnetospheric (magnetosheath) side of the reconnection layer. Furthermore, for v[sub s] << v*, the rotational discontinuity on the magnetosheath side is very thin, and an accelerated high-speed flow is located earthward of the rotational discontinuity, as observed at the dayside magnetopause. For v[sub s] [approximately] v*, the magnetic field transition region is thick, and the accelerated flow is present in the entire field transition region, as observed at the flank magnetopause. 11 refs., 3 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6518702
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 21:10; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSHEATH
SIMULATION