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In situ observations of flux rope at the separatrix region of magnetic reconnection
Author(s) -
Huang S. Y.,
Retino A.,
Phan T. D.,
Daughton W.,
Vaivads A.,
Karimabadi H.,
Zhou M.,
Sahraoui F.,
Li G. L.,
Yuan Z. G.,
Deng X. H.,
Fu H. S.,
Fu S.,
Pang Y.,
Wang D. D.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1002/2015ja021468
Subject(s) - separatrix , magnetic reconnection , physics , rope , tearing , flux (metallurgy) , instability , plasma , magnetic field , magnetic flux , electron , mechanics , nuclear physics , materials science , structural engineering , quantum mechanics , engineering , metallurgy , thermodynamics
We present the first in situ observations of a small‐scale flux rope locally formed at the separatrix region of magnetic reconnection without large guide field. Bidirectional electron beams (cold and hot beams) and density cavity accompanied by intense wave activity substantiate the crossing of the separatrix region. Density compression and one parallel electron beam are detected inside the flux rope. We suggest that this flux rope is locally generated at the separatrix region due to the tearing instability within the separatrix current layer. This observation sheds new light on the 3‐D picture of magnetic reconnection in space plasma.