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J.L. Burch·V. Angelopoulos Originally published in the journal Space Science Reviews, Volume 141, Nos 1–4, 1–3. DOI: 10.1007/s11214-008-9474-5 © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008 The Earth, like all the other planets, is continuously bombarded by the solar wind, which is variable on many time scales owing to its connection to the activity of the Sun. But the Earth is unique among planets because its atmosphere, magnetic eld, and rotation rates are each signi cant, though not dominant, players in the formation of its magnetosphere and its reaction to solar-wind inputs. An intriguing fact is that no matter what the time scale of solar-wind variations, the Earth’s response has a de nite pattern lasting a few hours. Known as a magnetospheric substorm, the response involves a build-up, a crash, and a recovery. The build-up (known as the growth phase) occurs because of an interlinking of the geom- netic eld and the solar-wind magnetic eld known as magnetic reconnection, which leads to storage of increasing amounts of magnetic energy and stress in the tail of the mag- tosphere and lasts about a half hour. The crash (known as the expansion phase) occurs when the increased magnetic energy and stresses are impulsively relieved, the current system that supports the stretched out magnetic tail is diverted into the ionosphere, and bright, dynamic displays of the aurora appear in the upper atmosphere. The expansion and subsequent rec- ery phases result from a second magnetic reconnection event that decouples the solar-wind and geomagnetic elds.
This book provides an overview of recent research highlights in the main areas of application of magnetic reconnection (MR), including planetary, solar and magnetospheric physics and astrophysics. It describes how research on magnetic reconnection, especially concerning the Earth's magnetosphere, has grown extensively due to dedicated observations from major satellite missions such as Cluster, Double Star and Themis. The accumulated observations from these missions are being supplemented by many theoretical and modelling efforts, for which large scale computer facilities are successfully being used, and the theoretical advances are also covered in detail. Opening with an introductory discussion of some fundamental issues related to magnetic reconnection, subsequent chapters address topics including collisionless magnetic reconnection, MHD structures in 3D reconnection, energy conversion processes, fast reconnection mediated by plasmoids, rapid reconnection and magnetic field topology. Further chapters consider specific areas of application such as magnetospheric dayside and tail reconnection, comparative reconnection in planetary systems and reconnection in astrophysical systems. The book offers insight into discussions about fundamental concepts and key aspects of MR, access to the full set of applications of MR as presently known in space physics and in astrophysics, and an introduction to a new related area of study dealing with the annihilation of quantum magnetic fluxes and its implications in the study on neutron star activity. The book is aimed primarily at students entering the field, but will also serve as a useful reference text for established scientists and senior researchers.
Our proposed project is to study the basic plasma processes associated with magnetic reconnection in the Earth's magnetosphere. The three-dimensional (3-D) reconnection process are emphasized in the present study. To explain the satellite observations of flux transfer events (FTEs), we have proposed a multiple X line reconnection (MXR) model for the dayside magnetopause. The same reconnection process may also explain the occurrence of geomagnetic substorms. The multiple X line reconnection is intrinsically a time- dependent process, featuring impulsive and intermittent magnetic reconnection. The study of driven magnetic reconnection process was further extended in the past year by our 3-D MHD simulations that magnetic reconnections may take place along the multiple X lines, resulting in the formulation of helical magnetic flux tubes. The simulation results confirm our earlier theoretical model of multiple X line reconnection in the real 3-D environment. The geometry of the reconnected field lines revealed in the 3-D simulations is found to be more complicated than anticipated. Strong plasma flows along the flux tubes is another feature observed in the simulations. The results suggested that the 3-D reconnections differ significantly from the 2-D reconnections.
Exploring the processes and phenomena of Earth’s dayside magnetosphere Energy and momentum transfer, initially taking place at the dayside magnetopause, is responsible for a variety of phenomenon that we can measure on the ground. Data obtained from observations of Earth’s dayside magnetosphere increases our knowledge of the processes by which solar wind mass, momentum, and energy enter the magnetosphere. Dayside Magnetosphere Interactions outlines the physics and processes of dayside magnetospheric phenomena, the role of solar wind in generating ultra-low frequency waves, and solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. Volume highlights include: Phenomena across different temporal and spatial scales Discussions on dayside aurora, plume dynamics, and related dayside reconnection Results from spacecraft observations, ground-based observations, and simulations Discoveries from the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission and Van Allen Probes era Exploration of foreshock, bow shock, magnetosheath, magnetopause, and cusps Examination of similar processes occurring around other planets The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.
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Magnetic reconnection is a ubiquitous phenomenon throughout the universe, but in terms of proximity, its occurrences at the day-side magnetopause and in the magnetotail are the instances that are closest to Earth both spatially and in importance to human life. At the day-side magnetopause, the solar magnetic field reconnects with the magnetic field of the Earth; these reconnected field lines move to the magnetotail, bringing solar wind plasma with them. Further reconnection at the magnetotail leads to the transfer of these energized particles into the Earth's upper atmosphere. Usually, the result of these incursions is only the ethereal beauty of the auroras (borealis and australis); however, larger quantities of incident plasma can and have had devastating effects on terrestrial and space-based electronic systems. Predicting these geomagnetic storm events depends on an understanding of both how and when large quantities of plasma and magnetic flux are emitted from the Sun (also a reconnection-based event) and how long it will take for these particles to enter the Earth's atmosphere via the magnetopause and magnetotail reconnection processes. To that end, in addition to satellite missions created to measure in situ activity, experiments and simulations here on Earth are studying reconnection in the relevant parameter regimes, particularly in plasmas whose collisionality is low enough to mimic the space environment. One such experiment is the Terrestrial Reconnection EXperiment (TREX), which is based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a partner of the Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory (WiPPL) collaborative research facility. TREX is designed to access the kinetic regime, which is typified by thin current layers, anisotropic pressure distributions, and fast reconnection. In conjunction with TREX, the newly developed Cylindrical VPIC (Vectorized Particle-in-Cell) code from Los Alamos National Laboratory has been used to simulate TREX in manner that preserves the experiment's cylindrical symmetry while optimizing computational efficiency. Different modified versions of the basic TREX VPIC setup have been successfully used to confirm and complement experimental findings, as well as to investigate plasma regimes the experiment cannot (presently) reach and to model different proposed TREX drive coil geometries. This thesis will present work from both the TREX laboratory and TREX VPIC simulations, with an emphasis on comparing the measured properties of reconnection in both scenarios and demonstrating how these data align with theoretical predictions about the kinetic reconnection parameter regime. Significant background to the construction and operation of TREX, Cylindrical VPIC, and relevant portions of the WiPPL facility will also be included.
Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 118. The magnetosphere is an open system that interacts with the solar wind. In this system, solar wind energy continuously permeates different regions of the magnetosphere through electromagnetic processes, which we can well describe in terms of current systems. In fact, our ability to use various methods to study magnetospheric current systems has recently prompted significant progress in our understanding of the phenomenon. Unprecedented coverage of satellite and ground?]based observations has advanced global approaches to magnetospheric current systems, whereas advanced measurements of electromagnetic fields and particles have brought new insights about micro?]processes. Increased computer capabilities have enabled us to simulate the dynamics not only of the terrestrial magnetosphere but also the magnetospheres of other planets. Based on such developments, the present volume revisits outstanding issues about magnetospheric current systems.