Reconstruction of two-dimensional magnetopause structures from Cluster observations: verification of method
Résumé
The optimal invariant axis is relatively close to the intermediate variance direction, computed from minimum variance analysis of the measured magnetic field, and is generally well determined with respect to rotations about the maximum variance direction but less well with respect to rotations about the minimum variance direction. In one of the events, field maps recovered individually for two of the spacecraft, which crossed the magnetopause with an interval of a few tens of seconds, show substantial differences in configuration. By comparing these field maps, time evolution of the magnetopause structures, such as the formation of magnetic islands, motion of the structures, and thickening of the magnetopause current layer, is discussed.
Key words. Magnetospheric physics (Magnetopause, cusp, and boundary layers) – Space plasma physics (Experimental and mathematical techniques, Magnetic reconnection)