Magnetic Reconnection and the Substorm

Magnetic reconnect ion is studied numerically by means of a two dimensional MHD code. The initial magnetic field configuration is the two-dimensional dipole field, and the simulation model involves magnetic reconnect ion driven by the magnetized plasma flow. Strong plasma jetting, plasmoid formation and its fast ejection are observed in the downstream region. The dependence of reconnection rate on the incoming energy flux is found to be very sensitive, while the magnitude of the resistivity does not influence much on the reconnection rate. The simulation results are discussed in the context of the geomagnetic substorm.