Inherently 3D Reconnection and its Relation to Magnetotail Dynamics
Michael Anthony Shay

   Although much progress has been made recently in understanding
   reconnection in 2-D systems, our theoretical understanding of 3-D
   reconnection is still limited. I examine the development of
   mesoscale structure during 3-D magnetic reconnection which
   initiates from random perturbations. Reconnection develops as
   multiple x-line segments with characteristic scale lengths of 1-4
   Earth Radii in the cross tail direction. For relatively wide
   initial current sheets (several ion inertial lengths), these
   finite-length x-lines remain spatially isolated and drive
   reconnection which is strongly reminiscent of bursty bulk flows
   (BBFs) in the magnetotail. In narrower initial current layers the
   x-line segments merge together to a state in which large scale
   magnetic energy release takes place. Thus, the degree of
   compression of the magnetotail may ultimately determine if energy
   is released in local bursts or globally as a substorm.