Bursty magnetic reconnection at the Earth's magnetopause triggered by high-speed jets
Jonathan Ng, Li‐Jen Chen, Y. A. Omelchenko
Abstract
The impact of high-speed jets—dynamic pressure enhancements in the magnetosheath—on the Earth's magnetopause has been observed to trigger local magnetic reconnection. We perform a three-dimensional hybrid simulation to study the magnetosheath and magnetopause under turbulent conditions using a quasi-radial southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). In contrast to quasi-steady reconnection with a strong southward IMF, we show that after the impact of a jet on the magnetopause, the magnetopause moves inward, the current sheet is compressed and intensified and signatures of local magnetic reconnection are observed, showing similarities to spacecraft measurements.
Topics & Concepts
MagnetopauseMagnetosheathPhysicsMagnetic reconnectionInterplanetary magnetic fieldGeophysicsCurrent sheetJet (fluid)Magnetic fieldSolar windMagnetohydrodynamicsAstrophysicsComputational physicsMechanicsQuantum mechanicsIonosphere and magnetosphere dynamicsSolar and Space Plasma DynamicsGeomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies