Publication Date:
2018-09-06
Description:
It has been proposed that, in the near-Earth magnetotail, earthward propagating flux ropes can merge with the Earth's dipole magnetic field and dissipate its magnetic energy. However, the reconnection diffusion region related to this process has not been identified. Here we report the first in situ observation of magnetic reconnection between an earthward propagating flux rope and the closed magnetic field lines connecting to Earth. Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft crossed a vertical current sheet between the leading edge of the flux rope (negative Bz) and the geomagnetic field (positive Bz). The subion-scale current sheet, super-Alfvénic electron outflow, Hall magnetic and electric field, conversion of magnetic energy to plasma energy (J·E 〉 0), and magnetic null were observed during the crossing. All the above signatures indicate that MMS detected the reconnection diffusion region. This result is also relevant to other planets with intrinsic magnetosphere. ©2018. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Print ISSN:
0094-8276
Electronic ISSN:
1944-8007
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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