Reconstruction of neighboring plasma environment along a satellite path by a barotropic plasma model

We develop a barotropic plasma model for the reconstruction of steady two-dimensional magnetic and plasma fields based on the single-point measurements from a satellite along its path. The model can be accurately integrated numerically because it avoids certain numerical singularities and it also avoids an ill-conditioned mapping between plasma entropy and the density-weighted velocity stream function. Our barotropic plasma model is applied to investigate the structure and dynamics in a magnetic reconnection event reported previously. The resulting two-dimensional maps of plasma and field configurations show far more complex features than depicted in most schematics of magnetic reconnection sites. The complicated patterns contain significant changes in plasma flow directions on the reconstruction plane as well as highly structured plasma flows and magnetic compressions perpendicular to it.

▶ A 2D barotropic reconstruction model developed. ▶ Numerical singularities eliminated. ▶ 2D plasma and field configurations presented.