Paper Title:
In situ observations of reconnecting current sheets

Author List:
Bale, Mozer

Abstract:
I will describe direct in-situ measurements of magnetic reconnection,
observed at the subsolar magnetopause of the terrestrial magnetosphere.
We measure the quadrupole magnetic and bipolar electric field signatures
of the Hall current through an 'ion diffusion region' and directly
determine a reconnection rate that is consistent with theoretical
expectations. I show that plasma wave (lower-hybrid drift instability)
turbulence is observed throughout the Hall region, but is stabilized by
high plasma pressure near the neutral point and provides insufficient
wave-electron momentum exchange for reconnection onset. Finally, recent
measurements of field structure on electron inertial scales indicate the
importance of an ambipolar electric field to the onset problem.

Poster:
No