Observations of Multiple X Lines Collisionless Reconnection in the Near Earth-Tail

Abstract

Observations of the Earth's magnetotail made by the Cluster II during 09:42 09:50 UT on October 1 2001 are presented. Two tailward magnetic flux ropes bounded by earthward and tailward convective high speed flows were observed. We directly detected the source of tailward high flow and the outflow region of earthward flow. Combining the observations, we provided important experimental evidence of multiple X lines reconnection. The time interval between two magnetic flux ropes was about 26 s.