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Detailed Reference Information
Tanaka et al. 2005
Tanaka, K.G., Shinohara, I. and Fujimoto, M. (2005). Quick magnetic reconnection triggering in an ion-scale current sheet: Transition from Type-I to Type-II. Geophysical Research Letters 32: doi: 10.1029/2005GL023718. issn: 0094-8276.

The details of Quick Magnetic Reconnection Triggering (QMRT) in ion-scale current sheets have been investigated using three-dimensional (3-D) full particle simulations with the mass ratio of 400. QMRT is mediated by coupling to the Lower-Hybrid Drift Instability (LHDI) and its time scale is as quick as the LHDI time scale. Up to the initial half-thickness D of D/λi = 0.875 (λi: the ion inertial length), QMRT is attained via thin current layer formation at the center of the current sheet in reaction to the LHDI activity (Type-I). At D/λi = 1, QMRT is still available but is attained by boosting up the tearing instability growth rate via the electron temperature anisotropy Te$perp$/Te$parallel$ ~ 1.2 (Type-II). In this case the LHDI activity induces the current density redistribution that does not result in enhanced current density at the center but produces electron perpendicular heating therein.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetic reconnection (7526, 7835), Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetotail, Magnetospheric Physics, Plasma waves and instabilities, Space Plasma Physics, Kinetic waves and instabilities, Space Plasma Physics, Particle acceleration
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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