Extended Data Fig. 2. Correlation of flows, fields, and currents with Bx, Bz.
Quantities plotted compactly in Fig. 3 are shown here in raw format, plotted against Bx, or Bz separately to reveal their correlation with these quantities, signifying adherence to expectations from the reconnection paradigm and revealing the full excursion of these quantities, which is obscure in color in Fig. 3. Quantities and units are listed in horizontal axes; Bx or Bz are listed in vertical axes (common for left and right panels). Different symbols correspond to various satellites in A-F and H and to different distances from the neutral sheet in G (as denoted in inserts). Colors, also representing satellites (P5/P4/P3 are magenta/blue/turquoise, respectively) in A-D and F further help differentiate the sources of data. Colors represent sign of Bz (red, blue for Bz<0, >0 respectively) in E, G and H. The time-interval plotted is 04:46:30-04:50:00UT (vertical solid lines in Fig. 2) except for some deviations for Vz, By, and Ez (denoted in the individual panels C, E and F), justified as follows: for Vz (restricted to 04:46:30-04:48:30UT, tailward of the X-line), the earthward side of the plasma sheet expanded lobeward, and the equatorward inflow (Vz) cannot be cleanly separated from outward expansion; for By (at G13 only, restricted to 04:46:30-04:47:45UT), the neutral sheet flapped southward (Extended Data Fig. 1K). and G13 moved closer to the neutral sheet as its ∣Bx∣ was suddenly reduced (Fig. 2E) and all its components became very noisy, presumably as it was immersed in the hot outflows from reconnection – beyond 04:48:30UT the reconnection exhaust moved quickly away from G13 as the X-line moved tailward; and for Ez (extended to 04:46:30-04:57:30UT) the interval is justified by the persistence of the Hall system electric field at P5-3 over the entire interval Δt (subsequent, secondary X-lines result in similar polarity Hall electric field, towards the neutral sheet from both sides). To reduce clutter from random fluctuations, low magnitudes of some quantities have been eliminated for Vx, By, Ez, and E∥, as listed in the respective panels (A, E, F and H).