LAUSR

Magnetic reconnection is a phenomenon that rearranges the topology of magnetic fields resulting in magnetic energy being transferred to particles. It is therefore a primary mechanism for energizing space plasmas (see recent book Gonzalez & Parker, 2016). Magnetic reconnection occurs at various locations in the solar system, for example, in the solar chromosphere during solar flares, and in the solar wind and inside coronal mass ejections (e.g. Gosling, 2012; Liewer et al., 2013). Magnetic reconnection also occurs at the magnetopause boundary at planetary magnetospheres and has important effects on the structure and dynamics of the terrestrial magnetosphere (Dungey, 1961). Flux transfer events (FTEs) are transient magnetic structures that are a result of reconnection occurring at the dayside magnetopause of a magnetosphere (e.g. Fear et al., 2008). FTEs are twisted helical flux tubes which are often called flux ropes, and were first observed at the Earth’s magnetopause (Rijnbeek, 1984; Russell & Elphic, 1978, 1989). The FTE flux rope structure is shown in Figure 1a, with a core field directed orthogonally to the outer layers of magnetic flux. The mechanism that generates FTEs at the magnetopause is generally accepted to be simultaneous multiple x-line reconnection (e.g. Lee & Fu, 1985; 1986).