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Microstructure of a magnetotail fireball
Author(s) -
Coroniti F. V.,
Scarf F. L.,
Frank L. A.,
Lepping R. P.
Publication year - 1977
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/gl004i006p00219
Subject(s) - physics , instability , magnetic field , magnetometer , turbulence , plasma , microstructure , quiet , tearing , event (particle physics) , plasma sheet , geophysics , computational physics , mechanics , astrophysics , magnetosphere , materials science , nuclear physics , astronomy , thermodynamics , metallurgy , quantum mechanics
We use high time resolution data from the magnetometer, LEPEDEA and plasma wave analyzer on IMP‐7 to examine the microstructure of a long‐duration magnetotail fireball event observed during an extended quiet period on November 9, 1972. We demonstrate that the magnetic field is turbulent with fluctuation time scales down to several seconds. These findings suggest that the magnetic merging process may be a highly turbulent one, possibly associated with a form of the tearing mode instability.