The Magnetic Flux Transport analysis and reconnection at the interface of entangled flux tubes
Presentation Type
Poster
Presenter Format
In Person Meeting Talk
Topic
Dayside Science
Start Date
10-5-2022 5:30 PM
Abstract
Magnetic reconnection plays an important role in converting energy while modifying the field topology. This process occurs under various plasma conditions during which the transport of magnetic flux is intrinsic. Identifying active magnetic reconnection sites in in-situ observations is challenging. A new technique, Magnetic Flux Transport (MFT) analysis, has been developed recently and proven in numerical simulation for identifying active reconnection efficiently and accurately. We apply the MFT analysis to MMS in-situ observations first. We examine the MFT process in 37 previously reported EDR/reconnection-line crossing events at the dayside magnetopause, in the magnetotail and magnetosheath. The co-existing inward and outward MFT flow at the X-point provides a signature that magnetic field lines become disconnected and reconnected. The application of MFT analysis to in-situ observations demonstrates that MFT can successfully identify active reconnection sites under symmetric, asymmetric, and turbulent upstream conditions, providing a higher rate of successful identification than relying on plasma outflow jets alone. We then consider a more specific scenario: At the interface of two entangled flux tubes, whether MMS observes active reconnection. We revisit the 17 entanglement events published earlier and apply MFT analysis to assist the identification of reconnection. In addition, we analyze the current sheet upstream conditions to verify if they meet any criteria that magnetic reconnection is expected to be suppressed.
The Magnetic Flux Transport analysis and reconnection at the interface of entangled flux tubes
Magnetic reconnection plays an important role in converting energy while modifying the field topology. This process occurs under various plasma conditions during which the transport of magnetic flux is intrinsic. Identifying active magnetic reconnection sites in in-situ observations is challenging. A new technique, Magnetic Flux Transport (MFT) analysis, has been developed recently and proven in numerical simulation for identifying active reconnection efficiently and accurately. We apply the MFT analysis to MMS in-situ observations first. We examine the MFT process in 37 previously reported EDR/reconnection-line crossing events at the dayside magnetopause, in the magnetotail and magnetosheath. The co-existing inward and outward MFT flow at the X-point provides a signature that magnetic field lines become disconnected and reconnected. The application of MFT analysis to in-situ observations demonstrates that MFT can successfully identify active reconnection sites under symmetric, asymmetric, and turbulent upstream conditions, providing a higher rate of successful identification than relying on plasma outflow jets alone. We then consider a more specific scenario: At the interface of two entangled flux tubes, whether MMS observes active reconnection. We revisit the 17 entanglement events published earlier and apply MFT analysis to assist the identification of reconnection. In addition, we analyze the current sheet upstream conditions to verify if they meet any criteria that magnetic reconnection is expected to be suppressed.
