Magnetic flux transfer at the magnetopause based on single X line bursty reconnection

Abstract

A model of flux transfer events (FTEs) at the dayside magnetopause is proposed, which is based on non‐stationary reconnection along a single X line over a large longitudinal segment. An individual field line coming from the magnetospheric side constitutes after reconnection a loop‐like structure in the magnetopause current layer and leaves into the magnetosheath. In the presence of a By component of the magnetic field in the transition region of the magnetopause each loop is twisted in the y direction. Whereas traditionally FTEs are considered to be localized flux tubes with a helical field inside, in the present model field lines come from the magnetospheric side over a large longitudinal segment, have a loop‐like structure in the magnetopause resulting in the FTE signatures, and leave over the same segment in longitude into interplanetary space. Copyright 1988 by the American Geophysical Union.