The magnetic topology of the plasmoid flux rope in a MHD-simulation of magnetotail reconnectionOn the basis of a 3D MHD simulation, the magnetic topology of a plasmoid that forms by a localized reconnection process in a magnetotail configuration (including a net dawn-dusk magnetic field component B sub y N is discussed. As a consequence of B sub y N not equalling 0, the plasmoid assumes a helical flux rope structure rather than an isolated island or bubble structure. Initially all field lines of the plasmoid flux rope remain connected with the earth, while at later times a gradually increasing amount of flux tubes becomes separated, connecting to either the distant boundary or to the flank boundaries. In this stage, topologically different flux tubes become tangled and wrapped around each other, consistent with predictions on the basis of an ad hoc plasmoid model.
Document ID
19920048657
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Birn, J. (NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Hesse, M. (Los Alamos National Laboratory NM, United States)