Cross-Scale Processes of Magnetic Reconnection
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Various physical processes in association with magnetic reconnection occur over multiple scales from the microscopic to macroscopic scale lengths. This paper reviews multi-scale and cross-scale aspects of magnetic reconnection revealed in the near-Earth space beyond the general global-scale features and magnetospheric circulation organized by the Dungey Cycle. Significant and novel advancements recently reported, in particular, since the launch of the Magnetospheric Multi-scale mission (MMS), are highlighted being categorized into different locations with different magnetic topologies. These potentially paradigm-shifting findings include shock and foreshock transient driven reconnection, magnetosheath turbulent reconnection, flow shear driven reconnection, multiple X-line structures generated in the dayside/flankside/nightside magnetospheric current sheets, development and evolution of reconnection-driven structures such as flux transfer events, flux ropes, and dipolarization fronts, and their interactions with ambient plasmas. The paper emphasizes key aspects of kinetic processes leading to multi-scale structures and bringing large-scale impacts of magnetic reconnection as discovered in the geospace environment. These key features can be relevant and applicable to understanding other heliospheric and astrophysical systems.
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Hwang, K.-J., Nakamura, R., Eastwood, J. P., Fuselier, S. A., Hasegawa, H., Nakamura, T., Lavraud, B., Dokgo, K., Turner, D. L., Ergun, R. E., & Reiff, P. H. (2023). Cross-Scale Processes of Magnetic Reconnection. Space Science Reviews, 219(8), 71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-023-01010-9