CAREER: The Effect of Shear Flow on the Scaling of Magnetic Reconnection and Solar Wind-Magnetospheric Coupling

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This project will examine the fundamental physics of magnetic reconnection under realistic conditions such as at Earth's magnetopause. The project will derive expressions for the scaling of the rate of reconnection as a function of the shear flow speed. It will use both fluid and kinetic simulations to test the results of the scaling model and will compare the signatures of reconnection to in situ satellite data. The project will incorporate the effects of shear flow on the recently derived coupling function for the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere. The educational goals are oriented toward increasing the number of women and minorities in participation in science in general and space and plasma science in particular. Particular emphasis will be placed on activities that may encourage students from lower socio-economic conditions to become involved with science. The project will include the creation of outreach movies about space weather that will utilize the Tomchin Planetarium at West Virginia University.