Open AccessFirst application of a Petschek‐type reconnection model with time‐varying reconnection rate to THEMIS observations
Author(s) -
Kiehas S. A.,
Semenov V. S.,
Kubyshkina M. V.,
Angelopoulos V.,
Nakamura R.,
Keika K.,
Ivanova V. V.,
Biernat H. K.,
Baumjohann W.,
Mende S.,
Magnes W.,
Auster U.,
Fornaçon K.H.,
Larson D.,
Carlson C. W.,
Bonnell J.,
McFadden J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2008ja013528
Subject(s) - physics , magnetic reconnection , flux (metallurgy) , event (particle physics) , geophysics , magnetic flux , magnetic field , astrophysics , materials science , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
We present a method to determine the location of the reconnection site and the amount of reconnected magnetic flux out of an analytical time‐dependent reconnection model and apply this method to disturbances observed on 2 February 2008 at about 0200 and 0815 UT by THEMIS B (P1). During these events, P1 detected two tailward propagating traveling compression regions, associated with typical variations in B z and B x . We find the reconnection site to be located at about −16 R E for the event at 0200 UT and −17.5 R E for the event at 0815 UT. These locations are consistent with simple timing considerations with respect to disturbances detected by the inner THEMIS spacecraft. The amount of reconnected flux in our 2‐D model can be found to be in the order of 10 8 nT m for both events. The calculations for the reconnection site's location are done by using two approaches, i.e., by using the B z and the B x signals, yielding consistent results. The reconnected flux can be determined using B z and v z . Also, these results are in good agreement. A comparison between the disturbances detected by P1 and the modeled variations shows that our model describes disturbances in the magnetic field and the background plasma very well.