A time-dependent model of magnetic field annihilation

Abstract

Quasi-periodic variations in the electric field intensity near the dayside magnetopause are studied within a planar, dissipative MHD model of a stagnation-line flow embedded in a rectilinear magnetic field. The model is based on an exact time-dependent solution of the resistive MHD equations applied to a Parker-type diffusion region of field-line merging. The results lead to the prediction of certain relations between physical parameters of the solar- wind plasma, and these are compared with actual measurements.