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In Situ Observation of Magnetic Reconnection Between an Earthward Propagating Flux Rope and the Geomagnetic Field
Author(s) -
Man H. Y.,
Zhou M.,
Deng X. H.,
Fu H. S.,
Zhong Z. H.,
Chen Z. Z.,
Russell C. T.,
Strangeway R. J.,
Paterson W. R.,
Giles B. L.,
Lindqvist P.A.,
Ergun R. E.,
Burch J. L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2018gl079778
Subject(s) - physics , magnetic reconnection , earth's magnetic field , current sheet , magnetosphere , plasmoid , magnetic energy , geophysics , magnetic field , magnetic flux , plasma sheet , field line , magnetic dipole , rope , magnetohydrodynamics , magnetization , structural engineering , engineering , quantum mechanics
It has been proposed that, in the near‐Earth magnetotail, earthward propagating flux ropes can merge with the Earth's dipole magnetic field and dissipate its magnetic energy. However, the reconnection diffusion region related to this process has not been identified. Here we report the first in situ observation of magnetic reconnection between an earthward propagating flux rope and the closed magnetic field lines connecting to Earth. Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft crossed a vertical current sheet between the leading edge of the flux rope (negative B z ) and the geomagnetic field (positive B z ). The subion‐scale current sheet, super‐Alfvénic electron outflow, Hall magnetic and electric field, conversion of magnetic energy to plasma energy (J·E > 0), and magnetic null were observed during the crossing. All the above signatures indicate that MMS detected the reconnection diffusion region. This result is also relevant to other planets with intrinsic magnetosphere.