Key Parameter for the Mass and Energy Transfer at the Magnetopause Determined from Cusp Structures

该项目将研究与地球昼侧磁层顶磁重联有关的过程。 它将确定作为控制相互作用的太阳风参数的函数的反平行重联与分量重联的相对发生率。 它还将研究从一种重联模式到另一种重联模式的过渡，并将确定在什么条件下磁重联变得准连续，在什么条件下它变得间歇性。 该项目将使用低速截止方法分析磁尖结构的性质，以确定重联点的位置。 本研究中使用的数据来自一些空间飞行任务，特别是欧洲航天局的星团使命和美国航天局的THEMIS使命，磁层顶的磁重联是等离子体质量和能量从太阳风输送到磁层顶并最终输送到高层大气的主要机制。 为了提供有关质量和能量转移的定量预测，需要知道几个参数作为太阳风条件的函数。 在这些参数中，反平行重连与组件重连的相对发生率。 除了参与这项研究的高级人员外，在夏季的几个月里，高中科学教师将通过科学和数学教育行业倡议（IISME）计划参与该项目。

This project will examine the processes that are involved with magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause of the Earth. It will determine the relative occurrence of anti-parallel reconnection versus component reconnection as a function of the parameters of the solar wind that control the interaction. It will also examine the transition from one mode of reconnection to the other and will determine under what conditions magnetic reconnection becomes quasi-continuous and under what conditions it becomes intermittent. The project will analyze the nature of structures in the magnetic cusp using the low-velocity cutoff method to determine the location of the reconnection site. The data to be used in this study come from a number of space missions, in particular the European Space Agency's Cluster Mission and the NASA THEMIS mission.Magnetic reconnection at the magnetopuse is the dominant mechanism by which plasma mass and energy is transported from the solar wind into the magnetopause and eventually to the upper atmosphere. In order to provide quantitative predictions about the mass and energy transfer, several paramters need to be known as a function of the solar wind conditions. Among these parameters is the relative occurrence of anit-parallel reconnection versus component reconnection. In addition to the senior personnel involved with this research, during the summer months high school science teachers will participate in the project through the Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education (IISME) program.