HR: 0800h
AN: SM11A-0319    [Abstracts]
TI: Two-dimensional MHD reconstruction for studying magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause
AU: * Teh, W
EM: Wai-Leong.Teh@Dartmouth.Edu
AF: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 8000 Hinman, Hanover, NH 03755, United States
AU: Sonnerup, B
EM: sonnerup@Dartmouth.Edu
AF: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 8000 Hinman, Hanover, NH 03755, United States
AB: A new method for the reconstruction of two-dimensional, coherent structures in a space plasma is developed, using the ideal MHD equations. The reconstruction algorithm is similar to that used in Grad-Shafranov (GS) reconstruction, which is to solve the equations as a spatial initial-value problem. It is benchmarked with an exact analytical solution, in which the pressure, density, all three magnetic field and flow components are functions of radius only, and in which isentropic flow at an angle to the magnetic field is present. The reconstruction results show good agreement with the exact solution, with acceptably small errors within a strip of substantial width around the spacecraft trajectory. The reconstruction scheme is then applied to previously studied magnetopause reconnection events seen by Cluster. In contrast to the case of GS reconstruction, which is performed in the deHoffmann-Teller frame, we now use a frame co-moving with the X-line, in which the axial electric field should ideally be constant. The new reconstruction results are generally consistent with earlier interpretations. We also examine the possibility of including the Hall term in Ohm¡¦s law by use of an iterative procedure.
DE: 2700 MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS (6939)
DE: 2723 Magnetic reconnection (7526, 7835)
DE: 2724 Magnetopause and boundary layers
DE: 7833 Mathematical and numerical techniques (0500, 3200)
SC: SPA-Magnetospheric Physics [SM]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting