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Reconnection layer at the flank magnetopause in the presence of shear flow
Author(s) -
Lin Y.,
Lee L. C.
Publication year - 1994
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 - 10.1029/94gl00704
Subject(s) - magnetosheath , magnetopause , physics , magnetic reconnection , geophysics , discontinuity (linguistics) , magnetosphere , magnetic field , mechanics , quantum mechanics , mathematical analysis , mathematics
We present hybrid simulations of reconnection layer at the flank magnetopause, where a large plasma flow speed is present in the magnetosheath. It is found that there exists a threshold flow speed υ * such that for the magnetosheath flow speed υ s < υ * (υ s > υ * ), the rotational discontinuity with a larger field rotation angle exists on the magnetosheath (magnetospheric) side of the reconnection layer. The threshold speed is found to be υ * = υ Am ‐ υ As , where υ Am (υ As ) is the Alfvén speed on the magnetospheric (magnetosheath) side of the reconnection layer. Furthermore, for υ s << υ * , the rotational discontinuity on the magnetosheath side is very thin, and an accelerated high‐speed flow is located earthward of the rotational discontinuity, as observed at the dayside magnetopause. For υ s ∼ υ * , the magnetic field transition region is thick, and the accelerated flow is present in the entire field transition region, as observed at the flank magnetopause.