Inherently three dimensional magnetic reconnection: A mechanism for bursty bulk flows?

被引：87

作者：

Shay, MA ^{[1
]}

Drake, JF

Swisdak, M

Dorland, W

Rogers, BN

机构：

[1] Univ Maryland, IREAP, College Pk, MD 20742 USA

[2] Dartmouth Coll, Dept Phys & Astron, Hanover, NH 03755 USA

来源：

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS | 2003年 / 30卷 / 06期

关键词：

D O I：

10.1029/2002GL016267

中图分类号：

P [天文学、地球科学];

学科分类号：

07 ;

摘要：

[1] We examine the development of mesoscale structure during 3-D magnetic reconnection which initiates from random perturbations. Reconnection develops as multiple x-line segments with characteristic scale lengths of similar to1-4 R-e in the cross tail direction. For relatively wide initial current sheets (several c/omega(pi)), these finite length x-lines remain spatially isolated and drive reconnection which is strongly reminiscent of bursty bulk flows (BBFs) in the magnetotail. In narrower initial current layers the x-line segments merge together to a state in which large scale magnetic energy release takes place. Thus, the degree of compression of the magnetotail may ultimately determine if energy is released in local bursts or globally as a substorm.

引用

页码：78 / 1

页数：4

共 13 条

[1] Magnetotail flow bursts: association to global magnetospheric circulation, relationship to ionospheric activity and direct evidence for localization [J].