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Detailed Reference Information |
Tanaka, K.G., Shinohara, I. and Fujimoto, M. (2004). Critical thickness for two-dimensional tearing instability. Geophysical Research Letters 31: doi: 10.1029/2003GL018955. issn: 0094-8276. |
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Dependence of tearing mode saturation state on the current sheet thickness is investigated by two-dimensional (2-D) full particle simulations. When the system length Lx is taken to be the wavelength of the maximum growth mode Lx = λmax = 12D (D: half-thickness of the current sheet), the instability is found to saturate without producing significant reconnection if D > Dcr1st = 3.5 λe, where λe is the electron inertial length. When the system length is doubled Lx = 2λmax, only insignificant effects are available for D > Dcr2nd = 2.7λh, where λh is the ion-electron hybrid inertial length. Comparing these 2-D results with a recent 3-D result, it is shown clearly that a three-dimensional effect reduces the current sheet thickness and thus leads to quick production of substantial reconnection even if D > Dcr1st. |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetotail, Space Plasma Physics, Magnetic reconnection, Space Plasma Physics, Waves and instabilities |
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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 |
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