Magnetic Structure and Particle Flow at a Northward IMF Reconnection Line

Wendel, D.E., Reiff, P.H., Fazakerley, A.N., Lucek, E., Goldstein, M.L.


On March 18, 2002, the Cluster satellites traveled from the earth's northern
mantle into the magnetosheath. During this time, the IMAGE spacecraft observed a
long-lived proton emission northward of the auroral zone. The Cluster electron
and magnetic field data suggest Cluster passed within 1 km of an active
reconnection line, entering the ion diffusion region and the edge of the
electron diffusion region. We present the current structure, velocity,
orientation, and size of the reconnection line, as well as evidence for waves
accompanying reconnection at different length scales. We propose that the x-line
is globally stable during Cluster's passage through the magnetopause, owing to
the presence of a plasma depletion layer. Ion and electron flows in the
magnetopause boundary layer are consistent with this and with the presence of
reconnection in the conjugate hemisphere as well.

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Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, U.S.A., 
5-9 December 2005