Cluster observations of complex 3D magnetic structures at the magnetopause
Fedorov, A.; Budnik, E.; Balogh, A.; Dandouras, I.; Louarn, P.; Rème, H.; Harvey, C. C.; Sauvaud, J. A.; Fruit, G.; Dunlop, M. C.
Abstract
On June 30, 2001, around 0530 UT, Cluster was moving along the magnetopause with spacecraft on both sides of the discontinuity. The configuration was `quasi-ideal' with magnetic field and plasma flow almost aligned in the magnetosheath and nearly anti-parallel to the magnetospheric field. Cluster observed several perturbations with leading and trailing edges corresponding respectively to tangential and rotational discontinuities. They present a complex 3D topology, consistent with the inter-linking of flux tubes resulting from reconnections occurring at different sites.