EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Burkhart et al. 1991
Burkhart, G.R., Drake, J.F. and Chen, J. (1991). Structure of the dissipation region during magnetic reconnection in collisionless plasma. Journal of Geophysical Research 96: doi: 10.1029/91JA00893. issn: 0148-0227.

The results of an analytic and numerical investigation of the structure of the X line during steady state magnetic reconnection in collisionless plasma are presented. The structure of the X line essentially depends on a single dimensionless parameter F, which is a measure of the influx of plasma into the reconnection region. For small F the self-consistent plasma current driven at the X line is small, and the magnetic fields are nearly unchanged from the initial vacuum state. With increasing F the current driven at the X line becomes large, and the dissipation region collapses in the direction of the inflow and elongates along the outflow. For sufficient large F the velocity of the plasma ejected from the X line exceeds the local Alfv¿en velocity. In this regime a fast mode shock forms at the outflow end of the dissipation region which slows the high-velocity outflow plasma to the subsonic flow characteristics of the broader outflow region. Finally, at a critical plasma flux Fc the dissipation region collapses to zero thickness; no steady solutions are found for F>Fc. By matching the energy dissipated at the neutral line with the change in global magnetic energy, a self-consistent equation for F is derived which indicates that F always adjusts so that Fc. Predications of reconnection rates and assoicated parameters for the geomagnetic tail are presented which are in reasonable agreement with observations.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Space Plasma Physics, Magnetic reconnection, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetotail, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetotail boundary layers, Magnetospheric Physics, Storms and substorms
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit