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Ion distributions in a two‐dimensional reconnection field geometry
Author(s) -
Curran D. B.,
Goertz C. K.,
Whelan T. A.
Publication year - 1987
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/gl014i002p00099
Subject(s) - magnetosheath , magnetopause , magnetosphere , physics , ion , magnetic reconnection , solar wind , computational physics , atomic physics , geophysics , plasma , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics
ISEE observations have shown trapped ion distributions in the magnetosphere along with streaming ion distributions in the magnetosheath. The more energetic ion beams are found to exist further away from the magnetopause than lower‐energy ion beams. In order to understand these properties of the data, we have taken a simple two‐dimensional reconnection model which contains a neutral line and an azimuthal electric field and compared its predictions with the experimental data of September 8, 1978. Our model explains trapped particles in the magnetosphere due to non‐adiabatic mirroring in the magnetosheath and streaming ions in the magnetosheath due to energization at the magnetopause. The model also shows the higher‐energy ions extending further into the magnetosheath, away from the magnetopause than the lower‐energy ions. This suggests the ion data of September 8, 1978 are consistent with a reconnection geometry.