Abstract

We have studied dayside magnetic reconnection by using a three-dimensional global magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. We found that two types of magnetic flux tubes were formed which depend on the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The dayside magnetic flux tubes occur only when the IMF has a southward component. When the IMF has a large B y component as well, a strongly twisted and localized magnetic flux tube similar to a magnetic flux rope forms at the magnetopause. When the IMF B y component is small, twin flux tubes appear at the dayside magnetopause. Both types of flux tubes are consistent with several observational features of flux transfer events and are generated by antiparallel magnetic reconnection.

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