Collisionless reconnection in a quasi-neutral sheet near marginal stability

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL016i011p01269· OSTI ID:7023907

Pritchett, P L; Coroniti, F V; Pellat, R; Karimabadi, H ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA (US)

Particle simulations are used to investigate the process of collisionless reconnection in a magnetotail configuration which includes a pressure gradient along the tail axis and tail flaring. In the absence of electron stabilization effects, the tearing mode is stabilized when the ion gyrofrequency in the normal field exceeds the growth rate in the corresponding one-dimensional current sheet. The presence of a low-frequency electromagnetic perturbation in the lobes can serve to destabilize a marginally stable current sheet by producing an extended neutral-sheet region which can then undergo reconnection. These results help to explain how {ital X}-type neutral lines, such as those associated with the onset of magnetospheric substorms, can be formed in the near-earth plasma sheet. {copyright} American Geophysical Union 1989

• OSTI ID: 7023907
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 16:11; ISSN GPRLA; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
GYROFREQUENCY
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETIC STORMS
MAGNETOTAIL
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA SIMULATION
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
SIMULATION
TEARING INSTABILITY