A three-dimensional MHD simulation of the multiple X line reconnection process

Fu, Zhengyi; Lee, L. C.; Shi, Y.

doi:10.1029/gm058p0515

Cited by 28 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Repeated formation and convection of magnetic flux tubes during the MXR process would lead to the observed features of FTEs at the dayside magnetopause. Simulation of Fu and Lee [1985] and other MHD simulations of MXR process performed by Lee and Fu [ 1986], Fu and Lee [1986], Shi et al [1988], Fu [1989], and Fu et al [1990] have confirmed the above speculation. MHD simulations of the dayside reconnection processes have also been reported by other authors, e.g., Hoshino and Nishida [ 1983], Sato et al [1986], Ogino et al [1989], Scholer [1989], Otto [1990], Shi and , and Ding et al [1991].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 57%

“…In the 3-D MHD simulation of the driven magnetic reconnection, frayed magnetic ropes can be formed owing to the development of the MXR process and strong flux tube-aligned plasma flows are observed [Fu, 1989;Fu et al, 1990]. However, in the present simulation study of the driven collisionless magnetic reconnection, particles are confined in a 2-D plane, the a•-z plane.…”

Section: Reconnecfion Enhancements Bursts Of Energetic Particles Elmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…Recent studies of three-dimensional magnetic recolmection illustrate that the 3-D magnetic reconnection process is very different from the two-dimensional reconnection process [Greene, 1988;Schindler et al, 1988;Hesse and Schindler, 1988;Fu, 1989;Fu et al, 1990;Otto, 1990]. In the 3-D MHD simulation of the driven magnetic reconnection, frayed magnetic ropes can be formed owing to the development of the MXR process and strong flux tube-aligned plasma flows are observed [Fu, 1989;Fu et al, 1990].…”

Section: Reconnecfion Enhancements Bursts Of Energetic Particles Elmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Particle simulations of driven collisionless magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause

Ding

Lee²,

Swift

1992

J. Geophys. Res.

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Basic plasma processes associated with driven collisionless magnetic reconnection at the Earth's dayside magnetopause are studied on the basis of particle simulations. A two-and-one-halfl-D) electromagnetic particle simulation model with a driven inflow boundary and dimensional (2[ an open outflow boundary is developed for the present study. The driven inflow boundary is featured with a driving electric field for the vector potential, while the open outflow boundary is characterized by a vacuum force-free condition for the electrostatic potential. The major findings are as follows: (1) the simulations exhibit both quasi-steady single X line reconnecfion and intermittent multiple X line reconnection (MXR); the MXR process is characterized by repeated formation and convection of magnetic islands; (2) particle acceleration in the reconnecfion process results in a power law energy spectrum of f(E) ~ E '• for energetic ions with E > 40 keV and energetic electrons with E > 3 keV, where E is the particle energy; particles are accelerated to high energy near magnetic O line regions as particles are trapped within magnetic islands; {3) fieldaligned particle heat fluxes and intense plasma waves associated with the collisionless magnetic reconnection process are also observed; typical power spectra of fluctuating magnetic and electric fields are found to be PB ~ f-3.6 and Ps ~ f-•.s, respectively, where f is the wave frequency;(4) when applied to the dayside magnetopause, simulation results show that the MXR process tends to generate a simultaneous magnetic field perturbation on both sides of the dayside magnetopause, resembling the observed features of two-regime flux transfer events (FTEs); and (5) an intrusion of magnetosheath plasma bulge into the magnetosphere due to the formation of magnetic islands may lead to the layered structures observed in magnetospheric FTEs. Simulation results are applied to the dayside magnetopause to provide an explanation for some features associated with dayside magnetic reconnection and FTEs. 1. 1984]. Paper number 92JA00304. 0148-0227/92/92JA-00304505.00 tention among theoretical, experimental, and computational physicists [e.g., Hones, 1984; Russell et al., 1990]. Magnetic reconnection has been used to explain solar flares, magnetospheric storms and substoms, and many other plasma processes observed in natural and laboratory plasma environments. Magnetic field reconnecfion is now believed to be one of the most important processes in the transfer of solar wind mass, momentum, and energy into the Earth's magnetosphere [e.g., Vasyliunas, 1975; Paschrnann et al., 1979; Sonnerup, 1979; Sonnerup et al., 1981; Cowley, 1982; Lee and Roederer, 1982]. The discovery of flux transfer events (FTEs) [Russell and Elphic, 1978, 1979] provided the first observational evidence for the intermittent magnetic reconnection at the Earth's dayside magnetopause. Observations of FTEs based on ISEE 1 and ISEE 2 satellites, as well as the recent AMPTE•KS, AMPTE••, and AMPTE/CCE spacecraft, reveal many new features...

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Section: Reconnecfion Enhancements Bursts Of Energetic Particles Elmentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: Reconnecfion Enhancements Bursts Of Energetic Particles Elmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Particle simulations of driven collisionless magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause

Ding

Lee²,

Swift

1992

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…Since the magnetic field within the flux rope has a spiral structure, there are sectors within this flux rope where the bulk velocity has a small component along the magnetic field direction (see Fig. 2 in Fu et al, 1990). This leads to an increase in the phase space density at small parallel velocity and may explain the origin of the central component in the velocity distribution.…”

Section: Component With Nearly Zero Parallel Velocitymentioning

confidence: 97%

“…16). Simulations of multiple reconnection show that plasma filling a newly-formed flux rope has a significant bulk velocity directed away from reconnection location (Fu et al, 1990). Since the magnetic field within the flux rope has a spiral structure, there are sectors within this flux rope where the bulk velocity has a small component along the magnetic field direction (see Fig.…”

Section: Component With Nearly Zero Parallel Velocitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ion velocity distributions within the LLBL and their possible implication to multiple reconnections

et al. 2004

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Abstract. We analyze two LLBL crossings made by the Interball-Tail satellite under a southward or variable magnetosheath magnetic field: one crossing on the flank of the magnetosphere, and another one closer to the subsolar point. Three different types of ion velocity distributions within the LLBL are observed: (a) D-shaped distributions, (b) ion velocity distributions consisting of two counterstreaming components of magnetosheath-type, and (c) distributions with three components, one of which has nearly zero parallel velocity and two counter-streaming components. Only the (a) type fits to the single magnetic flux tube formed by reconnection between the magnetospheric and magnetosheath magnetic fields. We argue that two counterstreaming magnetosheath-like ion components observed by Interball within the LLBL cannot be explained by the reflection of the ions from the magnetic mirror deeper within the magnetosphere. Types (b) and (c) ion velocity distributions would form within spiral magnetic flux tubes consisting of a mixture of alternating segments originating from the magnetosheath and from magnetospheric plasma. The shapes of ion velocity distributions and their evolution with decreasing number density in the LLBL indicate that a significant part of the LLBL is located on magnetic field lines of long spiral flux tube islands at the magnetopause, as has been proposed and found to occur in magnetopause simulations. We consider these observations as evidence for multiple reconnection Xlines between magnetosheath and magnetospheric flux tubes.

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Magnetic topologies of an in vivo FTE observed by Double Star/TC‐1 at Earth's magnetopause

Raeder

Zhong

et al. 2013

Geophysical Research Letters

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[1] Flux transfer events (FTEs) are magnetic flux ropes formed at planetary magnetopauses (MPs). Although evidence suggests that FTEs form through time-dependent magnetic reconnection, details of that process and 3D structure of the flux ropes remain largely unclear. This letter presents Double Star/TC-1 data of an FTE occurred on 7 April 2004 which show that the FTE was separated by two X-lines moving south-dawnward. In particular, the electron energy-pitch angle distribution implies that the FTE was composed of flux ropes of all four possible magnetic topologies, indicating that the field lines must have reconnected multiple times. This is an intrinsic property of FTEs formed by 3D multiple X-line reconnection distinguished from quasi 2D FTE models. This knowledge of FTE magnetic topologies helps to improve our understanding of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling at the MP. Citation: Pu,

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A three-dimensional MHD simulation of the multiple X line reconnection process

Cited by 28 publications

References 14 publications

Particle simulations of driven collisionless magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause

Particle simulations of driven collisionless magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause

Ion velocity distributions within the LLBL and their possible implication to multiple reconnections

Magnetic topologies of an in vivo FTE observed by Double Star/TC‐1 at Earth's magnetopause

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