Microstructure of a magnetotail fireball

We use high time resolution data from the magnetometer, LEPEDEA and plasma wave analyzer on IMP-7 to examine the microstructure of a long-duration magnetotail fireball event observed during an extended quiet period on November 9, 1972. We demonstrate that the magnetic field is turbulent with fluctuation time scales down to several seconds. These findings suggest that the magnetic merging process may be a highly turbulent one, possibly associated with a form of the tearing mode instability.