Automated Detection of Small-scale Magnetic Flux Ropes and Their Association with Shocks

We have quantitatively examined one type of fundamental space plasma structures in the solar wind, the magnetic flux ropes, especially those of relatively small scales. They usually are of durations ranging from a few minutes to a few hours. The main objectives are to reveal the existence in terms of their occurrence and distributions in the solar wind, to quantitatively examine their configurations and properties, and to relate to other relevant processes, involving particle energization and intermittent structures in the solar wind. The technical approach is a combination of time-series analysis methods with the Grad-Shafranov reconstruction technique. This modeling method is capable of characterizing two and a half dimensional cross section of space plasma structures, based on in-situ spacecraft measurements along a single path across. We present the automated detection of flux ropes, construction of an online magnetic flux rope database, and detailed case studies of such structures identified downstream of interplanetary shocks. (paper)