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A detailed examination of a X‐line region in the distant tail: ISEE‐3 observations of jet flow and B z reversals and a pair of slow shocks
Author(s) -
Ho C. M.,
Tsurutani B. T.,
Smith E. J.,
Feldman W. 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 - 10.1029/94gl02096
Subject(s) - physics , magnetic reconnection , astrophysics , magnetic field , interplanetary magnetic field , field line , shock (circulatory) , plasma , solar wind , line (geometry) , solar flare , geophysics , jet (fluid) , computational physics , mechanics , nuclear physics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , medicine
We report an observation of Petschek‐type magnetic reconnection at a distant neutral line (X = −230 R e , July 8, 1983) with a full set of signatures of the magnetic merging process. These features include a reversal of plasma flows from earthward to tailward, a pair of slow shocks and the magnetic field X‐type line. These two slow shocks are shown to satisfy the shock criteria used by Feldman et al. [1987]. The spacecraft first crosses a slow shock to enter the earthward flowing plasmasheet with velocity of about 440 km/s. The embedded magnetic field has a positive B z component. The spacecraft next enters a region of tailward plasma flow with speed ∼ 670 km/s and an embedded negative B z , indicating entry into the plasmasheet tailward of the X‐line. These observed velocities are comparable to calculated velocities based on Rankine‐Hugoniot conservation relationships. The spacecraft subsequently returns into the south tail lobe by crossing another slow shock. Coplanarity analyses show that the two slow shocks have orientations consistent with that predicted by the Petschek reconnection model. We note that this event occurs during northward interplanetary magnetic fields. Thus, a magnetic stress built‐up in the distant tail may be responsible for this reconnection process.