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Trattner KJ, Petrinec SM, Fuselier SA. The Location of Magnetic Reconnection at Earth's Magnetopause. SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS 2021; 217:41. [PMID: 34720216 PMCID: PMC8550343 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-021-00817-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
One of the major questions about magnetic reconnection is how specific solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions influence where reconnection occurs at the Earth's magnetopause. There are two reconnection scenarios discussed in the literature: a) anti-parallel reconnection and b) component reconnection. Early spacecraft observations were limited to the detection of accelerated ion beams in the magnetopause boundary layer to determine the general direction of the reconnection X-line location with respect to the spacecraft. An improved view of the reconnection location at the magnetopause evolved from ionospheric emissions observed by polar-orbiting imagers. These observations and the observations of accelerated ion beams revealed that both scenarios occur at the magnetopause. Improved methodology using the time-of-flight effect of precipitating ions in the cusp regions and the cutoff velocity of the precipitating and mirroring ion populations was used to pinpoint magnetopause reconnection locations for a wide range of solar wind conditions. The results from these methodologies have been used to construct an empirical reconnection X-line model known as the Maximum Magnetic Shear model. Since this model's inception, several tests have confirmed its validity and have resulted in modifications to the model for certain solar wind conditions. This review article summarizes the observational evidence for the location of magnetic reconnection at the Earth's magnetopause, emphasizing the properties and efficacy of the Maximum Magnetic Shear Model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - S. A. Fuselier
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX USA
- University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX USA
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Jasinski JM, Arridge CS, Lamy L, Leisner JS, Thomsen MF, Mitchell DG, Coates AJ, Radioti A, Jones GH, Roussos E, Krupp N, Grodent D, Dougherty MK, Waite JH. Cusp observation at Saturn's high-latitude magnetosphere by the Cassini spacecraft. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS 2014; 41:1382-1388. [PMID: 25821276 PMCID: PMC4373149 DOI: 10.1002/2014gl059319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED We report on the first analysis of magnetospheric cusp observations at Saturn by multiple in situ instruments onboard the Cassini spacecraft. Using this we infer the process of reconnection was occurring at Saturn's magnetopause. This agrees with remote observations that showed the associated auroral signatures of reconnection. Cassini crossed the northern cusp around noon local time along a poleward trajectory. The spacecraft observed ion energy-latitude dispersions-a characteristic signature of the terrestrial cusp. This ion dispersion is "stepped," which shows that the reconnection is pulsed. The ion energy-pitch angle dispersions suggest that the field-aligned distance from the cusp to the reconnection site varies between ∼27 and 51 RS . An intensification of lower frequencies of the Saturn kilometric radiation emissions suggests the prior arrival of a solar wind shock front, compressing the magnetosphere and providing more favorable conditions for magnetopause reconnection. KEY POINTS We observe evidence for reconnection in the cusp plasma at SaturnWe present evidence that the reconnection process can be pulsed at SaturnSaturn's cusp shows similar characteristics to the terrestrial cusp.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Jasinski
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics, University College London Dorking, Surrey, UK ; Centre for Planetary Sciences, UCL/Birkbeck London, UK
| | - C S Arridge
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics, University College London Dorking, Surrey, UK ; Centre for Planetary Sciences, UCL/Birkbeck London, UK
| | - L Lamy
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC, Université Paris 6, Université Paris Diderot Meudon, France
| | - J S Leisner
- Blackett Laboratory, Department of Physics, Imperial College London London, UK
| | - M F Thomsen
- Planetary Science Institute Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - D G Mitchell
- Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Laurel, Maryland, USA
| | - A J Coates
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics, University College London Dorking, Surrey, UK ; Centre for Planetary Sciences, UCL/Birkbeck London, UK
| | - A Radioti
- Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire, Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique, Université de Liége Liege, Belgium
| | - G H Jones
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics, University College London Dorking, Surrey, UK ; Centre for Planetary Sciences, UCL/Birkbeck London, UK
| | - E Roussos
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung Göttingen, Germany
| | - N Krupp
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung Göttingen, Germany
| | - D Grodent
- Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire, Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique, Université de Liége Liege, Belgium
| | | | - J H Waite
- Southwest Research Institute, Space Science and Engineering Division San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Badman SV, Andrews DJ, Cowley SWH, Lamy L, Provan G, Tao C, Kasahara S, Kimura T, Fujimoto M, Melin H, Stallard T, Brown RH, Baines KH. Rotational modulation and local time dependence of Saturn's infrared H3+auroral intensity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2012ja017990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Lai HR, Wei HY, Russell CT, Arridge CS, Dougherty MK. Reconnection at the magnetopause of Saturn: Perspective from FTE occurrence and magnetosphere size. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2011ja017263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Badman SV, Achilleos N, Arridge CS, Baines KH, Brown RH, Bunce EJ, Coates AJ, Cowley SWH, Dougherty MK, Fujimoto M, Hospodarsky G, Kasahara S, Kimura T, Melin H, Mitchell DG, Stallard T, Tao C. Cassini observations of ion and electron beams at Saturn and their relationship to infrared auroral arcs. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2011ja017222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Radioti A, Grodent D, Gérard JC, Milan SE, Bonfond B, Gustin J, Pryor W. Bifurcations of the main auroral ring at Saturn: ionospheric signatures of consecutive reconnection events at the magnetopause. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2011ja016661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Radioti
- Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire, Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique; Université de Liège; Liège Belgium
| | - D. Grodent
- Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire, Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique; Université de Liège; Liège Belgium
| | - J.-C. Gérard
- Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire, Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique; Université de Liège; Liège Belgium
| | - S. E. Milan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester U. K
| | - B. Bonfond
- Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire, Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique; Université de Liège; Liège Belgium
| | - J. Gustin
- Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire, Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique; Université de Liège; Liège Belgium
| | - W. Pryor
- Science Department; Central Arizona College; Coolidge Arizona USA
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Jackman CM, Slavin JA, Cowley SWH. Cassini observations of plasmoid structure and dynamics: Implications for the role of magnetic reconnection in magnetospheric circulation at Saturn. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2011ja016682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. M. Jackman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University College London; London UK
| | - J. A. Slavin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Greenbelt Maryland USA
| | - S. W. H. Cowley
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
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Jackman CM, Arridge CS, Slavin JA, Milan SE, Lamy L, Dougherty MK, Coates AJ. In situ observations of the effect of a solar wind compression on Saturn's magnetotail. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2010ja015312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. M. Jackman
- Blackett Laboratory; Imperial College London; London UK
| | - C. S. Arridge
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics; University College London; Dorking UK
- The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck; London UK
| | - J. A. Slavin
- Heliophysics Science Division; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Greenbelt Maryland USA
| | - S. E. Milan
- Radio and Space Plasma Physics Group; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - L. Lamy
- Blackett Laboratory; Imperial College London; London UK
| | | | - A. J. Coates
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics; University College London; Dorking UK
- The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck; London UK
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Clarke KE, Andrews DJ, Arridge CS, Coates AJ, Cowley SWH. Magnetopause oscillations near the planetary period at Saturn: Occurrence, phase, and amplitude. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009ja014745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. E. Clarke
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester United Kingdom
| | - D. J. Andrews
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester United Kingdom
| | - C. S. Arridge
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University College London; Dorking United Kingdom
- The Centre for Planetary Sciences at University College London/Birkbeck; London United Kingdom
| | - A. J. Coates
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University College London; Dorking United Kingdom
- The Centre for Planetary Sciences at University College London/Birkbeck; London United Kingdom
| | - S. W. H. Cowley
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester United Kingdom
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Masters A, Achilleos N, Kivelson MG, Sergis N, Dougherty MK, Thomsen MF, Arridge CS, Krimigis SM, McAndrews HJ, Kanani SJ, Krupp N, Coates AJ. Cassini observations of a Kelvin-Helmholtz vortex in Saturn's outer magnetosphere. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2010ja015351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Masters
- Space and Atmospheric Physics Group, Blackett Laboratory; Imperial College London; London UK
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics; University College London; Dorking UK
- Center for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
| | - N. Achilleos
- Center for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
- Atmospheric Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy; University College London; London UK
| | - M. G. Kivelson
- Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics; University of California; Los Angeles California USA
| | - N. Sergis
- Office of Space Research and Technology; Academy of Athens; Athens Greece
| | - M. K. Dougherty
- Space and Atmospheric Physics Group, Blackett Laboratory; Imperial College London; London UK
| | - M. F. Thomsen
- Space Science and Applications; Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos New Mexico USA
| | - C. S. Arridge
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics; University College London; Dorking UK
- Center for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
| | - S. M. Krimigis
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel Maryland USA
| | - H. J. McAndrews
- Space Science and Applications; Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos New Mexico USA
| | - S. J. Kanani
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics; University College London; Dorking UK
- Center for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
| | - N. Krupp
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung; Katlenburg-Lindau Germany
| | - A. J. Coates
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics; University College London; Dorking UK
- Center for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
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Clarke KE, Andrews DJ, Coates AJ, Cowley SWH, Masters A. Magnetospheric period oscillations of Saturn's bow shock. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009ja015164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. E. Clarke
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - D. J. Andrews
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - A. J. Coates
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University College London; Dorking UK
- Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck; London UK
| | - S. W. H. Cowley
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - A. Masters
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University College London; Dorking UK
- Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck; London UK
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12
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Grocott A, Badman SV, Cowley SWH, Milan SE, Nichols JD, Yeoman TK. Magnetosonic Mach number dependence of the efficiency of reconnection between planetary and interplanetary magnetic fields. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2009ja014330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Grocott
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - S. V. Badman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - S. W. H. Cowley
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - S. E. Milan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - J. D. Nichols
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - T. K. Yeoman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
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13
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Jackman CM, Arridge CS, Krupp N, Bunce EJ, Mitchell DG, McAndrews HJ, Dougherty MK, Russell CT, Achilleos N, Jones GH, Coates AJ. A multi-instrument view of tail reconnection at Saturn. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2008ja013592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. M. Jackman
- Space and Atmospheric Physics Group; Imperial College London; London UK
| | - C. S. Arridge
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University College London; Surrey UK
- Centre for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
| | - N. Krupp
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research; Katlenburg-Lindau Germany
| | - E. J. Bunce
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - D. G. Mitchell
- Applied Physics Laboratory; Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore Maryland USA
| | | | - M. K. Dougherty
- Space and Atmospheric Physics Group; Imperial College London; London UK
| | - C. T. Russell
- Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics; University of California; Los Angeles California USA
| | - N. Achilleos
- Centre for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University College London; London UK
| | - G. H. Jones
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University College London; Surrey UK
- Centre for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
| | - A. J. Coates
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University College London; Surrey UK
- Centre for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
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Achilleos N, Arridge CS, Bertucci C, Jackman CM, Dougherty MK, Khurana KK, Russell CT. Large-scale dynamics of Saturn's magnetopause: Observations by Cassini. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2008ja013265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Achilleos
- Atmospheric Physics Laboratory, Center for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
- Blackett Laboratory; Imperial College London; London UK
| | - C. S. Arridge
- Blackett Laboratory; Imperial College London; London UK
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Center for Planetary Sciences; University College London, Holmbury St Mary; London UK
| | - C. Bertucci
- Blackett Laboratory; Imperial College London; London UK
| | - C. M. Jackman
- Blackett Laboratory; Imperial College London; London UK
| | | | - K. K. Khurana
- Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics; University of California-Los Angeles; Los Angeles California USA
| | - C. T. Russell
- Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics; University of California-Los Angeles; Los Angeles California USA
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