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Verscharen D, Wicks RT, Alexandrova O, Bruno R, Burgess D, Chen CHK, D’Amicis R, De Keyser J, de Wit TD, Franci L, He J, Henri P, Kasahara S, Khotyaintsev Y, Klein KG, Lavraud B, Maruca BA, Maksimovic M, Plaschke F, Poedts S, Reynolds CS, Roberts O, Sahraoui F, Saito S, Salem CS, Saur J, Servidio S, Stawarz JE, Štverák Š, Told D. A Case for Electron-Astrophysics. EXPERIMENTAL ASTRONOMY 2021; 54:473-519. [PMID: 36915623 PMCID: PMC9998602 DOI: 10.1007/s10686-021-09761-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The smallest characteristic scales, at which electron dynamics determines the plasma behaviour, are the next frontier in space and astrophysical plasma research. The analysis of astrophysical processes at these scales lies at the heart of the research theme of electron-astrophysics. Electron scales are the ultimate bottleneck for dissipation of plasma turbulence, which is a fundamental process not understood in the electron-kinetic regime. In addition, plasma electrons often play an important role for the spatial transfer of thermal energy due to the high heat flux associated with their velocity distribution. The regulation of this electron heat flux is likewise not understood. By focussing on these and other fundamental electron processes, the research theme of electron-astrophysics links outstanding science questions of great importance to the fields of space physics, astrophysics, and laboratory plasma physics. In this White Paper, submitted to ESA in response to the Voyage 2050 call, we review a selection of these outstanding questions, discuss their importance, and present a roadmap for answering them through novel space-mission concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Verscharen
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Dorking, UK
- Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH USA
| | - Robert T. Wicks
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Dorking, UK
- Department of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Olga Alexandrova
- Laboratoire d’Études Spatiales et d’Instrumentation en Astrophysique, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Paris, France
| | - Roberto Bruno
- Instituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, INAF, Rome, Italy
| | - David Burgess
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Johan De Keyser
- Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thierry Dudok de Wit
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l’Environment et de l’Espace, CNRS, University of Orléans and CNES, Orléans, France
| | - Luca Franci
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, INAF, Firenze, Italy
| | - Jiansen He
- School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Pierre Henri
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l’Environment et de l’Espace, CNRS, University of Orléans and CNES, Orléans, France
- CNRS, UCA, OCA, Lagrange, Nice, France
| | - Satoshi Kasahara
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Kristopher G. Klein
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - Benoit Lavraud
- Laboratoire d’astrophysique de Bordeaux, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Pessac, France
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, CNRS, UPS, CNES, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Bennett A. Maruca
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Bartol Research Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE USA
| | - Milan Maksimovic
- Laboratoire d’Études Spatiales et d’Instrumentation en Astrophysique, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Paris, France
| | | | - Stefaan Poedts
- Centre for Mathematical Plasma Astrophysics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Physics, University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska, Lublin, Poland
| | | | - Owen Roberts
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - Fouad Sahraoui
- Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, CNRS, École Polytechnique, Sorbonne Université, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Paris Saclay, Palaiseau, France
| | - Shinji Saito
- Space Environment Laboratory, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chadi S. Salem
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Joachim Saur
- Institut für Geophysik und Meteorologie, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sergio Servidio
- Department of Physics, Università della Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | | | - Štěpán Štverák
- Astronomical Institute and Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Told
- Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Garching, Germany
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Nikoukar R, Lawrence DJ, Peplowski PN, Dewey RM, Korth H, Baker DN, McNutt RL. Statistical Study of Mercury's Energetic Electron Events as Observed by the Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer Instrument Onboard MESSENGER. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. SPACE PHYSICS 2018; 123:4961-4978. [PMID: 30167351 PMCID: PMC6108406 DOI: 10.1029/2018ja025339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We present results from a statistical analysis of Mercury's energetic electron (EE) events as observed by the gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer instrument onboard the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft. The main objective of this study is to investigate possible anisotropic behavior of EE events using multiple data sets from MESSENGER instruments. We study the data from the neutron spectrometer (NS) and the gamma-ray spectrometer anticoincidence shield (ACS) because they use the same type of borated plastic scintillator and, hence, they have very similar response functions, and their large surface areas make them more sensitive to low-intensity EE events than MESSENGER's particle instrumentation. The combined analysis of NS and ACS data reveals two different classes of energetic electrons: "Standard" events and "ACS-enhanced" events. Standard events, which comprise over 90% of all events, have signal sizes that are the same in both the ACS and NS. They are likely gyrating particles about Mercury's magnetic field following a 90° pitch angle distribution and are located in well-defined latitude and altitude regions within Mercury's magnetosphere. ACS-enhanced events, which comprise less than 10% of all events, have signal sizes in the ACS that are 10 to 100 times larger than those observed by the NS. They follow a beam-like distribution and are observed both inside and outside Mercury's magnetosphere with a wider range of latitudes and altitudes than Standard events. The difference between the Standard and ACS-enhanced event characteristics suggests distinct underyling acceleration mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Nikoukar
- Applied Physics LaboratoryJohns Hopkins UniversityLaurelMDUSA
| | | | | | - Ryan M. Dewey
- Department of Climate and Space Sciences and EngineeringUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Haje Korth
- Applied Physics LaboratoryJohns Hopkins UniversityLaurelMDUSA
| | - Daniel N. Baker
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCOUSA
| | - Ralph L. McNutt
- Applied Physics LaboratoryJohns Hopkins UniversityLaurelMDUSA
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Eastwood JP, Mistry R, Phan TD, Schwartz SJ, Ergun RE, Drake JF, Øieroset M, Stawarz JE, Goldman MV, Haggerty C, Shay MA, Burch JL, Gershman DJ, Giles BL, Lindqvist PA, Torbert RB, Strangeway RJ, Russell CT. Guide Field Reconnection: Exhaust Structure and Heating. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS 2018; 45:4569-4577. [PMID: 31031447 PMCID: PMC6473590 DOI: 10.1029/2018gl077670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Magnetospheric Multiscale observations are used to probe the structure and temperature profile of a guide field reconnection exhaust ~100 ion inertial lengths downstream from the X-line in the Earth's magnetosheath. Asymmetric Hall electric and magnetic field signatures were detected, together with a density cavity confined near 1 edge of the exhaust and containing electron flow toward the X-line. Electron holes were also detected both on the cavity edge and at the Hall magnetic field reversal. Predominantly parallel ion and electron heating was observed in the main exhaust, but within the cavity, electron cooling and enhanced parallel ion heating were found. This is explained in terms of the parallel electric field, which inhibits electron mixing within the cavity on newly reconnected field lines but accelerates ions. Consequently, guide field reconnection causes inhomogeneous changes in ion and electron temperature across the exhaust.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R. Mistry
- The Blackett LaboratoryImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - T. D. Phan
- Space Sciences LaboratoryUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - S. J. Schwartz
- The Blackett LaboratoryImperial College LondonLondonUK
- LASP/Department of Astrophysical and Planetary SciencesUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | - R. E. Ergun
- LASP/Department of Astrophysical and Planetary SciencesUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | - J. F. Drake
- Department of Physics and Institute for Physical Science and TechnologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
| | - M. Øieroset
- Space Sciences LaboratoryUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - J. E. Stawarz
- The Blackett LaboratoryImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - M. V. Goldman
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | - C. Haggerty
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of DelawareNewarkDEUSA
- Now at The Department of Astronomy and AstrophysicsUniversity of ChicagoChicagoILUSA
| | - M. A. Shay
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of DelawareNewarkDEUSA
| | - J. L. Burch
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - D. J. Gershman
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of DelawareNewarkDEUSA
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | - B. L. Giles
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | - P. A. Lindqvist
- Department of Space and Plasma PhysicsRoyal Institute of TechnologyStockholmSweden
| | - R. B. Torbert
- Now at The Department of Astronomy and AstrophysicsUniversity of ChicagoChicagoILUSA
- Space Science CenterUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | - R. J. Strangeway
- Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - C. T. Russell
- Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
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The Role of Magnetic Islands in Collisionless Driven Reconnection: A Kinetic Approach to Multi-Scale Phenomena. PLASMA 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/plasma1010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of magnetic islands in collisionless driven reconnection has been investigated from the standpoint of a kinetic approach to multi-scale phenomena by means of two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation. There are two different types of the solutions in the evolution of the reconnection system. One is a steady solution in which the system relaxes into a steady state, and no island is generated (the no-island case). The other is an intermittent solution in which the system does not reach a steady state, and magnetic islands are frequently generated in the current sheet (the multi-island case). It is found that the electromagnetic energy is more effectively transferred to the particle energy in the multi-island case compared with the no-island case. The transferred energy is stored inside the magnetic island in the form of the thermal energy through compressional heating, and is carried away together with the magnetic island from the reconnection region. These results suggest that the formation of a magnetic island chain may have a potential to bridge the energy gap between macroscopic and microscopic physics by widening the dissipation region and strengthening the energy dissipation rate.
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Eriksson S, Wilder FD, Ergun RE, Schwartz SJ, Cassak PA, Burch JL, Chen LJ, Torbert RB, Phan TD, Lavraud B, Goodrich KA, Holmes JC, Stawarz JE, Sturner AP, Malaspina DM, Usanova ME, Trattner KJ, Strangeway RJ, Russell CT, Pollock CJ, Giles BL, Hesse M, Lindqvist PA, Drake JF, Shay MA, Nakamura R, Marklund GT. Magnetospheric Multiscale Observations of the Electron Diffusion Region of Large Guide Field Magnetic Reconnection. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2016; 117:015001. [PMID: 27419573 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.117.015001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We report observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) satellites of a large guide field magnetic reconnection event. The observations suggest that two of the four MMS spacecraft sampled the electron diffusion region, whereas the other two spacecraft detected the exhaust jet from the event. The guide magnetic field amplitude is approximately 4 times that of the reconnecting field. The event is accompanied by a significant parallel electric field (E_{∥}) that is larger than predicted by simulations. The high-speed (∼300 km/s) crossing of the electron diffusion region limited the data set to one complete electron distribution inside of the electron diffusion region, which shows significant parallel heating. The data suggest that E_{∥} is balanced by a combination of electron inertia and a parallel gradient of the gyrotropic electron pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Eriksson
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - F D Wilder
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - R E Ergun
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
- Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - S J Schwartz
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
- The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - P A Cassak
- West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
| | - J L Burch
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas 78238-5166, USA
| | - L-J Chen
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - R B Torbert
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas 78238-5166, USA
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
| | - T D Phan
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - B Lavraud
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Université de Toulouse, 31028 Toulouse, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5277, Toulouse, France
| | - K A Goodrich
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
- Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - J C Holmes
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
- Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - J E Stawarz
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
- Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - A P Sturner
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
- Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - D M Malaspina
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - M E Usanova
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - K J Trattner
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - R J Strangeway
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - C T Russell
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - C J Pollock
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA
| | - B L Giles
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA
| | - M Hesse
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA
| | - P-A Lindqvist
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-11428 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J F Drake
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - M A Shay
- University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - R Nakamura
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, 8042 Graz, Austria
| | - G T Marklund
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-11428 Stockholm, Sweden
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Dong QL, Wang SJ, Lu QM, Huang C, Yuan DW, Liu X, Lin XX, Li YT, Wei HG, Zhong JY, Shi JR, Jiang SE, Ding YK, Jiang BB, Du K, He XT, Yu MY, Liu CS, Wang S, Tang YJ, Zhu JQ, Zhao G, Sheng ZM, Zhang J. Plasmoid ejection and secondary current sheet generation from magnetic reconnection in laser-plasma interaction. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2012; 108:215001. [PMID: 23003270 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.108.215001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2011] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Reconnection of the self-generated magnetic fields in laser-plasma interaction was first investigated experimentally by Nilson et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 255001 (2006)] by shining two laser pulses a distance apart on a solid target layer. An elongated current sheet (CS) was observed in the plasma between the two laser spots. In order to more closely model magnetotail reconnection, here two side-by-side thin target layers, instead of a single one, are used. It is found that at one end of the elongated CS a fanlike electron outflow region including three well-collimated electron jets appears. The (>1 MeV) tail of the jet energy distribution exhibits a power-law scaling. The enhanced electron acceleration is attributed to the intense inductive electric field in the narrow electron dominated reconnection region, as well as additional acceleration as they are trapped inside the rapidly moving plasmoid formed in and ejected from the CS. The ejection also induces a secondary CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan-Li Dong
- Beijing National Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China.
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7
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Sherlock M. Generalized Ohm's law for a background plasma in the presence of relativistic charged particles. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2010; 104:205004. [PMID: 20867035 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.104.205004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2009] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A generalized Ohm's law is derived for a system composed of a background magnetohydrodynamic plasma and a lower density relativistic charged-particle distribution. The interpretation of Ohmic electric fields occurring due to force balance breaks down for such a system and instead an approach based on Maxwell's equations along with the particle flux equations is necessary. Three additional terms arise in Ohm's law and each is verified numerically.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sherlock
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom
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9
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Guo J. Electron dynamics in collisionless magnetic reconnection with a PIC simulation. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s11434-008-0438-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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10
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Bowers K, Li H. Spectral energy transfer and dissipation of magnetic energy from fluid to kinetic scales. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2007; 98:035002. [PMID: 17358690 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.98.035002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2006] [Revised: 10/18/2006] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the magnetic energy transfer from the fluid to kinetic scales and dissipation processes using three-dimensional fully kinetic particle-in-cell plasma simulations. The nonlinear evolution of a sheet pinch is studied where we show that it exhibits both fluid scale global relaxation and kinetic scale collisionless reconnection at multiple resonant surfaces. The interactions among collisionless tearing modes destroy the original flux surfaces and produce stochastic fields, along with generating sheets and filaments of intensified currents. In addition, the magnetic energy is transferred from the original shear length scale both to the large scales due to the global relaxation and to the smaller, kinetic scales for dissipation. The dissipation is dominated by the thermal or pressure effect in the generalized Ohm's law, and electrons are preferentially accelerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Bowers
- Plasma Physics (X-1), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
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11
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Taylor MGGT, Reeves GD, Friedel RHW, Thomsen MF, Elphic RC, Davies JA, Dunlop MW, Laakso H, Lavraud B, Baker DN, Slavin JA, Perry CH, Escoubet CP, Masson A, Opgenoorth HJ, Vallat C, Daly PW, Fazakerley AN, Lucek EA. Cluster encounter with an energetic electron beam during a substorm. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2006ja011666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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12
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Drake JF, Swisdak M, Che H, Shay MA. Electron acceleration from contracting magnetic islands during reconnection. Nature 2006; 443:553-6. [PMID: 17024088 DOI: 10.1038/nature05116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 690] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2005] [Accepted: 07/19/2006] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A long-standing problem in the study of space and astrophysical plasmas is to explain the production of energetic electrons as magnetic fields 'reconnect' and release energy. In the Earth's magnetosphere, electron energies reach hundreds of thousands of electron volts (refs 1-3), whereas the typical electron energies associated with large-scale reconnection-driven flows are just a few electron volts. Recent observations further suggest that these energetic particles are produced in the region where the magnetic field reconnects. In solar flares, upwards of 50 per cent of the energy released can appear as energetic electrons. Here we show that electrons gain kinetic energy by reflecting from the ends of the contracting 'magnetic islands' that form as reconnection proceeds. The mechanism is analogous to the increase of energy of a ball reflecting between two converging walls--the ball gains energy with each bounce. The repetitive interaction of electrons with many islands allows large numbers to be efficiently accelerated to high energy. The back pressure of the energetic electrons throttles reconnection so that the electron energy gain is a large fraction of the released magnetic energy. The resultant energy spectra of electrons take the form of power laws with spectral indices that match the magnetospheric observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Drake
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
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13
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Onofri M, Isliker H, Vlahos L. Stochastic acceleration in turbulent electric fields generated by 3D reconnection. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2006; 96:151102. [PMID: 16712143 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.96.151102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2006] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Electron and proton acceleration in three-dimensional electric and magnetic fields is studied through test particle simulations. The fields are obtained by a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulation of magnetic reconnection in slab geometry. The nonlinear evolution of the system is characterized by the growth of many unstable modes and the initial current sheet is fragmented with formation of small scale structures. We inject at random points inside the evolving current sheet a Maxwellian distribution of particles. In a relatively short time (less than a millisecond) the particles develop a power-law tail. The acceleration is extremely efficient and the electrons absorb a large percentage of the available energy in a small fraction of the characteristic time of the MHD simulation, suggesting that resistive MHD codes are unable to represent the full extent of particle acceleration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Onofri
- Department of Physics, University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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14
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Yoon PH, Rhee T, Ryu CM. Self-consistent generation of superthermal electrons by beam-plasma interaction. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2005; 95:215003. [PMID: 16384149 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.95.215003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2005] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
It has been known since the early days of plasma physics research that superthermal electrons are generated during beam-plasma laboratory experiments. Superthermal electrons (the kappa distribution) are also ubiquitously observed in space. To explain such a feature, various particle acceleration mechanisms have been proposed. However, self-consistent acceleration of electrons in the context of plasma kinetic theory has not been demonstrated to date. This Letter reports such a demonstration. It is shown that the collisionality, defined via the "plasma parameter" g=1/n(lambda(D)(3), plays a pivotal role. It is found that a small but moderately finite value of is necessary for the superthermal tail to be generated, implying that purely collisionless (g=0) Vlasov theory cannot produce a superthermal population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter H Yoon
- Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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