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Numerical simulation of magnetic reconnection with O-type magnetic island has shown that as reconnection develops the plasma flow pattern suddenly changes from the tearingmode type to a pattern such that the plasma is accelerated along the boundary layer of the magnetic island and is confined inside the island. The pressure of the island is accordingly drastically increased and the island swells and expands. Comparison with the open-ended (X-type) reconnection process has shown that "fireballs" in the magnetosphere can well be accounted for.
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Sato et al. (1978) studied this question.
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