Decimetric Type-U Solar Radio Bursts and Associated EUV Phenomena on 2011 February 9

A GOES M1.9 flare took place in active region AR 11153 on 2011 February 9. With a resolution of 200 kHz and a time cadence of 80 ms, the reverse-drifting (RS) type-III bursts, intermittent sequence of type-U bursts, drifting pulsation structure (DPS), and fine structures were observed by the Yunnan Observatories Solar Radio Spectrometer (YNSRS). Combined information revealed by the multiwavelength data indicated that after the DPS was observed by YNSRS, the generation rate of type-U bursts suddenly increased to 5 times what it had been. In this event, the generation rate of type-U bursts may depend on the magnetic-reconnection rate. Our observations are consistent with previous numerical simulation results. After the first plasmoid produced (plasma instability occurred), the magnetic-reconnection rate suddenly increased by 5 to 8 times. Furthermore, after the DPS, the frequency range of the turnover frequency of type-U bursts was obviously broadened to thrice what it was before, which indicates a fluctuation amplitude of the density in the loop top. Our observations also support numerical simulations during the flare-impulsive phase. Turbulence occurs at the top of the flare loop and the plasmoids can trap nonthermal particles, causing density fluctuation at the loop top. The observations are generally consistent with the results of numerical simulations, helping us to better understand the characteristics of the whole physical process of eruption.

Dayside magnetopause reconnection and flux transfer events: BepiColombo earth-Flyby observations

This study analyzes the flux transfer event (FTE)-type flux ropes and magnetic reconnection around the dayside magnetopause during BepiColombo’s Earth flyby. The magnetosheath corresponds to a high plasma β (~ 8) and the IMF has a significant radial component. Six flux ropes are identified. The motion of flux rope together with the maximum magnetic shear model suggests that the reconnection X-line swipes BepiColombo near the magnetic equator due to an increase of the radial IMF. The flux rope with the highest flux content contains a clear coalescence signature, i.e., two smaller flux ropes merging, supporting theoretical predictions the flux content of flux ropes can grow through coalescence. The secondary reconnection associated with coalescence exhibits a large normalized guide field and a reconnection rate comparable to the reconnection rate measured at the magnetopause (~ 0.1).

Regulation of the normalized rate of driven magnetic reconnection through shocked flux pileup

Magnetic reconnection is explored on the Terrestrial Reconnection Experiment (TREX) for asymmetric inflow conditions and in a configuration where the absolute rate of reconnection is set by an external drive. Magnetic pileup enhances the upstream magnetic field of the high-density inflow, leading to an increased upstream Alfvén speed and helping to lower the normalized reconnection rate to values expected from theoretical consideration. In addition, a shock interface between the far upstream supersonic plasma inflow and the region of magnetic flux pileup is observed, important to the overall force balance of the system, thereby demonstrating the role of shock formation for configurations including a supersonically driven inflow. Despite the specialized geometry where a strong reconnection drive is applied from only one side of the reconnection layer, previous numerical and theoretical results remain robust and are shown to accurately predict the normalized rate of reconnection for the range of system sizes considered. This experimental rate of reconnection is dependent on system size, reaching values as high as 0.8 at the smallest normalized system size applied.

How Jupiter’s unusual magnetospheric topology structures its aurora

Jupiter’s bright persistent polar aurora and Earth’s dark polar region indicate that the planets’ magnetospheric topologies are very different. High-resolution global simulations show that the reconnection rate at the interface between the interplanetary and jovian magnetic fields is too slow to generate a magnetically open, Earth-like polar cap on the time scale of planetary rotation, resulting in only a small crescent-shaped region of magnetic flux interconnected with the interplanetary magnetic field. Most of the jovian polar cap is threaded by helical magnetic flux that closes within the planetary interior, extends into the outer magnetosphere, and piles up near its dawnside flank where fast differential plasma rotation pulls the field lines sunward. This unusual magnetic topology provides new insights into Jupiter’s distinctive auroral morphology.