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- Title
Polynomial Reconstruction of the Reconnection Magnetic Field Observed by Multiple Spacecraft.
- Authors
Denton, R. E.; Torbert, R. B.; Hasegawa, H.; Dors, I.; Genestreti, K. J.; Argall, M. R.; Gershman, D.; Le Contel, O.; Burch, J. L.; Russell, C. T.; Strangeway, R. J.; Giles, B. L.; Fischer, D.
- Abstract
We describe methods for polynomial reconstruction of the magnetic field close to a cluster of spacecraft and apply that to reconstruction of the magnetic field observed during a magnetic reconnection event on 10 August 2017 by the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft. Four different models are described, which vary in complexity between a 12‐parameter linear model, which has only linear variation with respect to the spatial coordinates, and a 27‐parameter quadratic model, which has the full quadratic expansion except that the second derivative with respect to the Minimum Directional Derivative minimum gradient coordinate m has been neglected. In contrast to previous reconstruction techniques, these reconstructions can be found using only the magnetic field and current density measured at a single time by the cluster of spacecraft. The equations satisfying ∇·B=0 are satisfied exactly, while the equations specifying the model fields at the spacecraft locations are satisfied for most models in a best least squares sense. For this magnetotail event, the models have very small errors in magnetic field components (<0.1 nT) at a distance from the nearest spacecraft on the order of the spacecraft separation, Lsc, here equal to 20.5 km. The magnetic structures found using the quadratic models are very time dependent, with a stretched field leading to plasmoid formation at one point in time. Key Points: Polynomial reconstruction methods using both magnetic field and particle current density for input are describedFor a magnetotail event, the magnetic field error is small (<0.1 nT) up to about one spacecraft separation from the nearest spacecraftThe quadratic reconstructions are very dynamic, with stretched magnetic fields leading to formation of plasmoids
- Subjects
MAGNETIC reconnection; MAGNETIC fields; SPACE vehicles; MAGNETOSPHERIC physics; CURRENT density (Electromagnetism)
- Publication
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics, 2020, Vol 125, Issue 2, p1
- ISSN
2169-9380
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/2019JA027481