1
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Hwang K, Dokgo K, Choi E, Burch JL, Sibeck DG, Giles BL, Hasegawa H, Fu HS, Liu Y, Wang Z, Nakamura TKM, Ma X, Fear RC, Khotyaintsev Y, Graham DB, Shi QQ, Escoubet CP, Gershman DJ, Paterson WR, Pollock CJ, Ergun RE, Torbert RB, Dorelli JC, Avanov L, Russell CT, Strangeway RJ. Magnetic Reconnection Inside a Flux Rope Induced by Kelvin-Helmholtz Vortices. J Geophys Res Space Phys 2020; 125:e2019JA027665. [PMID: 32714734 PMCID: PMC7375157 DOI: 10.1029/2019ja027665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
On 5 May 2017, MMS observed a crater-type flux rope on the dawnside tailward magnetopause with fluctuations. The boundary-normal analysis shows that the fluctuations can be attributed to nonlinear Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) waves. Reconnection signatures such as flow reversals and Joule dissipation were identified at the leading and trailing edges of the flux rope. In particular, strong northward electron jets observed at the trailing edge indicated midlatitude reconnection associated with the 3-D structure of the KH vortex. The scale size of the flux rope, together with reconnection signatures, strongly supports the interpretation that the flux rope was generated locally by KH vortex-induced reconnection. The center of the flux rope also displayed signatures of guide-field reconnection (out-of-plane electron jets, parallel electron heating, and Joule dissipation). These signatures indicate that an interface between two interlinked flux tubes was undergoing interaction, causing a local magnetic depression, resulting in an M-shaped crater flux rope, as supported by reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- K.‐J. Hwang
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - K. Dokgo
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - E. Choi
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - J. L. Burch
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | | | - B. L. Giles
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | - H. Hasegawa
- Institute of Space and Astronautical ScienceJapan Aerospace Exploration AgencySagamiharaJapan
| | - H. S. Fu
- School of Science and EnvironmentBeihang UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Y. Liu
- School of Science and EnvironmentBeihang UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Z. Wang
- School of Science and EnvironmentBeihang UniversityBeijingChina
| | | | - X. Ma
- Physical Sciences DepartmentEmbry‐Riddle Aeronautical UniversityDaytona BeachFLUSA
| | - R. C. Fear
- School of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | | | | | - Q. Q. Shi
- School of Earth and Space SciencesPeking UniversityPekingChina
| | - C. P. Escoubet
- European Space Research and Technology CentreNoordwijkthe Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - R. E. Ergun
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsUniversity of Colorado at BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | - R. B. Torbert
- Space Science CenterUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | | | - L. Avanov
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
- The Goddard Planetary Heliophysics InstituteUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - C. T. Russell
- Institute of Geophysics and Planetary PhysicsUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - R. J. Strangeway
- Institute of Geophysics and Planetary PhysicsUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
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2
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Hwang K, Choi E, Dokgo K, Burch JL, Sibeck DG, Giles BL, Goldstein ML, Paterson WR, Pollock CJ, Shi QQ, Fu H, Hasegawa H, Gershman DJ, Khotyaintsev Y, Torbert RB, Ergun RE, Dorelli JC, Avanov L, Russell CT, Strangeway RJ. Electron Vorticity Indicative of the Electron Diffusion Region of Magnetic Reconnection. Geophys Res Lett 2019; 46:6287-6296. [PMID: 31598018 PMCID: PMC6774273 DOI: 10.1029/2019gl082710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
While vorticity defined as the curl of the velocity has been broadly used in fluid and plasma physics, this quantity has been underutilized in space physics due to low time resolution observations. We report Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations of enhanced electron vorticity in the vicinity of the electron diffusion region of magnetic reconnection. On 11 July 2017 MMS traversed the magnetotail current sheet, observing tailward-to-earthward outflow reversal, current-carrying electron jets in the direction along the electron meandering motion or out-of-plane direction, agyrotropic electron distribution functions, and dissipative signatures. At the edge of the electron jets, the electron vorticity increased with magnitudes greater than the electron gyrofrequency. The out-of-plane velocity shear along distance from the current sheet leads to the enhanced vorticity. This, in turn, contributes to the magnetic field perturbations observed by MMS. These observations indicate that electron vorticity can act as a proxy for delineating the electron diffusion region of magnetic reconnection.
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Affiliation(s)
- K.‐J. Hwang
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - E. Choi
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - K. Dokgo
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - J. L. Burch
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | | | - B. L. Giles
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | - M. L. Goldstein
- The Goddard Planetary Heliophysics InstituteUniversity of MarylandBaltimoreMDUSA
| | | | | | - Q. Q. Shi
- School of Earth and Space SciencesPeking UniversityPekingChina
| | - H. Fu
- School of Science and EnvironmentBeihang UniversityBeijingChina
| | - H. Hasegawa
- Institute of Space and Astronautical ScienceJapan Aerospace Exploration AgencySagamiharaJapan
| | | | | | - R. B. Torbert
- Space Science CenterUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | - R. E. Ergun
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | | | - L. Avanov
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
- The Goddard Planetary Heliophysics InstituteUniversity of MarylandBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - C. T. Russell
- Institute of Geophysics and Planetary PhysicsUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - R. J. Strangeway
- Institute of Geophysics and Planetary PhysicsUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
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3
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Phan TD, Eastwood JP, Shay MA, Drake JF, Sonnerup BUÖ, Fujimoto M, Cassak PA, Øieroset M, Burch JL, Torbert RB, Rager AC, Dorelli JC, Gershman DJ, Pollock C, Pyakurel PS, Haggerty CC, Khotyaintsev Y, Lavraud B, Saito Y, Oka M, Ergun RE, Retino A, Le Contel O, Argall MR, Giles BL, Moore TE, Wilder FD, Strangeway RJ, Russell CT, Lindqvist PA, Magnes W. Publisher Correction: Electron magnetic reconnection without ion coupling in Earth's turbulent magnetosheath. Nature 2019; 569:E9. [PMID: 31073227 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1208-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Change history: In this Letter, the y-axis values in Fig. 3f should go from 4 to -8 (rather than from 4 to -4), the y-axis values in Fig. 3h should appear next to the major tick marks (rather than the minor ticks), and in Fig. 1b, the arrows at the top and bottom of the electron-scale current sheet were going in the wrong direction; these errors have been corrected online.
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Affiliation(s)
- T D Phan
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - J P Eastwood
- The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - M A Shay
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - J F Drake
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | | | - P A Cassak
- West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - M Øieroset
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - J L Burch
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - R B Torbert
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - A C Rager
- Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA.,NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - J C Dorelli
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - D J Gershman
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - B Lavraud
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Y Saito
- ISAS/JAXA, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - M Oka
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - R E Ergun
- University of Colorado LASP, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - A Retino
- CNRS/Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, France
| | | | - M R Argall
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - B L Giles
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - T E Moore
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - F D Wilder
- University of Colorado LASP, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - R J Strangeway
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - C T Russell
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - W Magnes
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
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4
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Torbert RB, Burch JL, Phan TD, Hesse M, Argall MR, Shuster J, Ergun RE, Alm L, Nakamura R, Genestreti KJ, Gershman DJ, Paterson WR, Turner DL, Cohen I, Giles BL, Pollock CJ, Wang S, Chen LJ, Stawarz JE, Eastwood JP, Hwang KJ, Farrugia C, Dors I, Vaith H, Mouikis C, Ardakani A, Mauk BH, Fuselier SA, Russell CT, Strangeway RJ, Moore TE, Drake JF, Shay MA, Khotyaintsev YV, Lindqvist PA, Baumjohann W, Wilder FD, Ahmadi N, Dorelli JC, Avanov LA, Oka M, Baker DN, Fennell JF, Blake JB, Jaynes AN, Le Contel O, Petrinec SM, Lavraud B, Saito Y. Electron-scale dynamics of the diffusion region during symmetric magnetic reconnection in space. Science 2018; 362:1391-1395. [PMID: 30442767 DOI: 10.1126/science.aat2998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Magnetic reconnection is an energy conversion process that occurs in many astrophysical contexts including Earth's magnetosphere, where the process can be investigated in situ by spacecraft. On 11 July 2017, the four Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft encountered a reconnection site in Earth's magnetotail, where reconnection involves symmetric inflow conditions. The electron-scale plasma measurements revealed (i) super-Alfvénic electron jets reaching 15,000 kilometers per second; (ii) electron meandering motion and acceleration by the electric field, producing multiple crescent-shaped structures in the velocity distributions; and (iii) the spatial dimensions of the electron diffusion region with an aspect ratio of 0.1 to 0.2, consistent with fast reconnection. The well-structured multiple layers of electron populations indicate that the dominant electron dynamics are mostly laminar, despite the presence of turbulence near the reconnection site.
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Affiliation(s)
- R B Torbert
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA. .,Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - J L Burch
- Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - T D Phan
- University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - M Hesse
- Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX, USA.,University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - M R Argall
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - J Shuster
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - R E Ergun
- University of Colorado Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - L Alm
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - R Nakamura
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - K J Genestreti
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - D J Gershman
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - W R Paterson
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - D L Turner
- Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA, USA
| | - I Cohen
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - B L Giles
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - C J Pollock
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - S Wang
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - L-J Chen
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA.,University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - J E Stawarz
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - J P Eastwood
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - K J Hwang
- Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - C Farrugia
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - I Dors
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - H Vaith
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - C Mouikis
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - A Ardakani
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - B H Mauk
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - S A Fuselier
- Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX, USA.,University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - C T Russell
- University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - T E Moore
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - J F Drake
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - M A Shay
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | | | | | - W Baumjohann
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - F D Wilder
- University of Colorado Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - N Ahmadi
- University of Colorado Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - J C Dorelli
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - L A Avanov
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - M Oka
- University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - D N Baker
- University of Colorado Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - J B Blake
- Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA, USA
| | | | - O Le Contel
- Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, CNRS/Ecole Polytechnique/Sorbonne Université/Univ. Paris Sud/Observatoire de Paris, Paris, France
| | - S M Petrinec
- Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - B Lavraud
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, CNRS, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Y Saito
- Institute for Space and Astronautical Sciences, Sagamihara, Japan
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5
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Burch JL, Webster JM, Genestreti KJ, Torbert RB, Giles BL, Fuselier SA, Dorelli JC, Rager AC, Phan TD, Allen RC, Chen L, Wang S, Le Contel O, Russell CT, Strangeway RJ, Ergun RE, Jaynes AN, Lindqvist P, Graham DB, Wilder FD, Hwang K, Goldstein J. Wave Phenomena and Beam-Plasma Interactions at the Magnetopause Reconnection Region. J Geophys Res Space Phys 2018; 123:1118-1133. [PMID: 29938153 PMCID: PMC5993346 DOI: 10.1002/2017ja024789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports on Magnetospheric Multiscale observations of whistler mode chorus and higher-frequency electrostatic waves near and within a reconnection diffusion region on 23 November 2016. The diffusion region is bounded by crescent-shaped electron distributions and associated dissipation just upstream of the X-line and by magnetic field-aligned currents and electric fields leading to dissipation near the electron stagnation point. Measurements were made southward of the X-line as determined by southward directed ion and electron jets. We show that electrostatic wave generation is due to magnetosheath electron beams formed by the electron jets as they interact with a cold background plasma and more energetic population of magnetospheric electrons. On the magnetosphere side of the X-line the electron beams are accompanied by a strong perpendicular electron temperature anisotropy, which is shown to be the source of an observed rising-tone whistler mode chorus event. We show that the apex of the chorus event and the onset of electrostatic waves coincide with the opening of magnetic field lines at the electron stagnation point.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. L. Burch
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - J. M. Webster
- Department of Physics and AstronomyRice UniversityHoustonTXUSA
| | | | - R. B. Torbert
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | - B. L. Giles
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | | | | | - A. C. Rager
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
- Department of PhysicsCatholic University of AmericaWashingtonDCUSA
| | - T. D. Phan
- Space Sciences LaboratoryUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - R. C. Allen
- Applied Physics LaboratoryThe Johns Hopkins UniversityLaurelMDUSA
| | - L.‐J. Chen
- Department of AstronomyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
| | - S. Wang
- Department of AstronomyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
| | - O. Le Contel
- Laboratoire de Physique des PlasmasCNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, UPMC University Paris 06, Université Paris‐Sud, Observatoire de ParisParisFrance
| | - C. T. Russell
- Earth and Planetary SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - R. J. Strangeway
- Earth and Planetary SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - R. E. Ergun
- LASPUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | - A. N. Jaynes
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of IowaIowa CityIAUSA
| | | | | | | | - K.‐J. Hwang
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
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6
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Rager AC, Dorelli JC, Gershman DJ, Uritsky V, Avanov LA, Torbert RB, Burch JL, Ergun RE, Egedal J, Schiff C, Shuster JR, Giles BL, Paterson WR, Pollock CJ, Strangeway RJ, Russell CT, Lavraud B, Coffey VN, Saito Y. Electron Crescent Distributions as a Manifestation of Diamagnetic Drift in an Electron-Scale Current Sheet: Magnetospheric Multiscale Observations Using New 7.5 ms Fast Plasma Investigation Moments. Geophys Res Lett 2018; 45:578-584. [PMID: 29576666 PMCID: PMC5856066 DOI: 10.1002/2017gl076260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 12/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We report Magnetospheric Multiscale observations of electron pressure gradient electric fields near a magnetic reconnection diffusion region using a new technique for extracting 7.5 ms electron moments from the Fast Plasma Investigation. We find that the deviation of the perpendicular electron bulk velocity from E × B drift in the interval where the out-of-plane current density is increasing can be explained by the diamagnetic drift. In the interval where the out-of-plane current is transitioning to in-plane current, the electron momentum equation is not satisfied at 7.5 ms resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. C. Rager
- Department of PhysicsCatholic University of AmericaWashingtonDCUSA
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | | | | | - V. Uritsky
- Department of PhysicsCatholic University of AmericaWashingtonDCUSA
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | - L. A. Avanov
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
- Department of AstronomyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
| | - R. B. Torbert
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - J. L. Burch
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - R. E. Ergun
- Astrophysical and Planetary SciencesUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | - J. Egedal
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWIUSA
| | - C. Schiff
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | - J. R. Shuster
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
- Department of AstronomyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
| | - B. L. Giles
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | | | | | - R. J. Strangeway
- Earth, Planetary, and Space SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - C. T. Russell
- Earth, Planetary, and Space SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - B. Lavraud
- Research Institute in Astrophysics and PlanetologyToulouseFrance
| | - V. N. Coffey
- NASA Marshall Space Flight CenterHuntsvilleALUSA
| | - Y. Saito
- Institute for Space and Astronautical ScienceSagamiharaJapan
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7
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Varsani A, Nakamura R, Sergeev VA, Baumjohann W, Owen CJ, Petrukovich AA, Yao Z, Nakamura TKM, Kubyshkina MV, Sotirelis T, Burch JL, Genestreti KJ, Vörös Z, Andriopoulou M, Gershman DJ, Avanov LA, Magnes W, Russell CT, Plaschke F, Khotyaintsev YV, Giles BL, Coffey VN, Dorelli JC, Strangeway RJ, Torbert RB, Lindqvist P, Ergun R. Simultaneous Remote Observations of Intense Reconnection Effects by DMSP and MMS Spacecraft During a Storm Time Substorm. J Geophys Res Space Phys 2017; 122:10891-10909. [PMID: 29399431 PMCID: PMC5784414 DOI: 10.1002/2017ja024547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
During a magnetic storm on 23 June 2015, several very intense substorms took place, with signatures observed by multiple spacecraft including DMSP and Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS). At the time of interest, DMSP F18 crossed inbound through a poleward expanding auroral bulge boundary at 23.5 h magnetic local time (MLT), while MMS was located duskward of 22 h MLT during an inward crossing of the expanding plasma sheet boundary. The two spacecraft observed a consistent set of signatures as they simultaneously crossed the reconnection separatrix layer during this very intense reconnection event. These include (1) energy dispersion of the energetic ions and electrons traveling earthward, accompanied with high electron energies in the vicinity of the separatrix; (2) energy dispersion of polar rain electrons, with a high-energy cutoff; and (3) intense inward convection of the magnetic field lines at the MMS location. The high temporal resolution measurements by MMS provide unprecedented observations of the outermost electron boundary layer. We discuss the relevance of the energy dispersion of the electrons, and their pitch angle distribution, to the spatial and temporal evolution of the boundary layer. The results indicate that the underlying magnetotail magnetic reconnection process was an intrinsically impulsive and the active X-line was located relatively close to the Earth, approximately at 16-18 RE.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Varsani
- Space Research InstituteAustrian Academy of SciencesGrazAustria
| | - R. Nakamura
- Space Research InstituteAustrian Academy of SciencesGrazAustria
| | - V. A. Sergeev
- Earth's Physics DepartmentSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. PetersburgRussia
| | - W. Baumjohann
- Space Research InstituteAustrian Academy of SciencesGrazAustria
| | - C. J. Owen
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory/UCLDorkingUK
| | | | - Z. Yao
- Space Science Technologies and Astrophysics Research InstituteLiegeBelgium
| | | | - M. V. Kubyshkina
- Earth's Physics DepartmentSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. PetersburgRussia
| | - T. Sotirelis
- Applied Physics LaboratoryThe Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMAUSA
| | - J. L. Burch
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
| | | | - Z. Vörös
- Space Research InstituteAustrian Academy of SciencesGrazAustria
- Institute of PhysicsUniversity of GrazGrazAustria
| | - M. Andriopoulou
- Space Research InstituteAustrian Academy of SciencesGrazAustria
| | - D. J. Gershman
- Heliophysics Science DivisionNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | - L. A. Avanov
- Heliophysics Science DivisionNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | - W. Magnes
- Space Research InstituteAustrian Academy of SciencesGrazAustria
| | - C. T. Russell
- University of California Los Angeles, IGPP/EPSSLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - F. Plaschke
- Space Research InstituteAustrian Academy of SciencesGrazAustria
| | | | - B. L. Giles
- Heliophysics Science DivisionNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | - V. N. Coffey
- NASA Marshall Space Flight CenterHuntsvilleALUSA
| | - J. C. Dorelli
- Heliophysics Science DivisionNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMDUSA
| | | | - R. B. Torbert
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTXUSA
- University of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | | | - R. Ergun
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOUSA
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8
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Johlander A, Schwartz SJ, Vaivads A, Khotyaintsev YV, Gingell I, Peng IB, Markidis S, Lindqvist PA, Ergun RE, Marklund GT, Plaschke F, Magnes W, Strangeway RJ, Russell CT, Wei H, Torbert RB, Paterson WR, Gershman DJ, Dorelli JC, Avanov LA, Lavraud B, Saito Y, Giles BL, Pollock CJ, Burch JL. Rippled Quasiperpendicular Shock Observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Spacecraft. Phys Rev Lett 2016; 117:165101. [PMID: 27792387 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.117.165101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Collisionless shock nonstationarity arising from microscale physics influences shock structure and particle acceleration mechanisms. Nonstationarity has been difficult to quantify due to the small spatial and temporal scales. We use the closely spaced (subgyroscale), high-time-resolution measurements from one rapid crossing of Earth's quasiperpendicular bow shock by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft to compare competing nonstationarity processes. Using MMS's high-cadence kinetic plasma measurements, we show that the shock exhibits nonstationarity in the form of ripples.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Johlander
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala 75121, Sweden
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75120, Sweden
| | - S J Schwartz
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - A Vaivads
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala 75121, Sweden
| | | | - I Gingell
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - I B Peng
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 11428, Sweden
| | - S Markidis
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 11428, Sweden
| | - P-A Lindqvist
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 11428, Sweden
| | - R E Ergun
- Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - G T Marklund
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 11428, Sweden
| | - F Plaschke
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz 8042, Austria
| | - W Magnes
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz 8042, Austria
| | - R J Strangeway
- University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - C T Russell
- University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - H Wei
- University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - R B Torbert
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
| | - W R Paterson
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA
| | - D J Gershman
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - J C Dorelli
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA
| | - L A Avanov
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA
| | - B Lavraud
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse 31028, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5277, Toulouse 31400, France
| | - Y Saito
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, JAXA, Sagamihara 2525210, Japan
| | - B L Giles
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA
| | - C J Pollock
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA
| | - J L Burch
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas 78238, USA
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9
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Nakamura R, Sergeev VA, Baumjohann W, Plaschke F, Magnes W, Fischer D, Varsani A, Schmid D, Nakamura TKM, Russell CT, Strangeway RJ, Leinweber HK, Le G, Bromund KR, Pollock CJ, Giles BL, Dorelli JC, Gershman DJ, Paterson W, Avanov LA, Fuselier SA, Genestreti K, Burch JL, Torbert RB, Chutter M, Argall MR, Anderson BJ, Lindqvist P, Marklund GT, Khotyaintsev YV, Mauk BH, Cohen IJ, Baker DN, Jaynes AN, Ergun RE, Singer HJ, Slavin JA, Kepko EL, Moore TE, Lavraud B, Coffey V, Saito Y. Transient, small-scale field-aligned currents in the plasma sheet boundary layer during storm time substorms. Geophys Res Lett 2016; 43:4841-4849. [PMID: 27867235 PMCID: PMC5111425 DOI: 10.1002/2016gl068768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We report on field-aligned current observations by the four Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft near the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL) during two major substorms on 23 June 2015. Small-scale field-aligned currents were found embedded in fluctuating PSBL flux tubes near the separatrix region. We resolve, for the first time, short-lived earthward (downward) intense field-aligned current sheets with thicknesses of a few tens of kilometers, which are well below the ion scale, on flux tubes moving equatorward/earthward during outward plasma sheet expansion. They coincide with upward field-aligned electron beams with energies of a few hundred eV. These electrons are most likely due to acceleration associated with a reconnection jet or high-energy ion beam-produced disturbances. The observations highlight coupling of multiscale processes in PSBL as a consequence of magnetotail reconnection.
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10
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Eastwood JP, Phan TD, Cassak PA, Gershman DJ, Haggerty C, Malakit K, Shay MA, Mistry R, Øieroset M, Russell CT, Slavin JA, Argall MR, Avanov LA, Burch JL, Chen LJ, Dorelli JC, Ergun RE, Giles BL, Khotyaintsev Y, Lavraud B, Lindqvist PA, Moore TE, Nakamura R, Paterson W, Pollock C, Strangeway RJ, Torbert RB, Wang S. Ion-scale secondary flux ropes generated by magnetopause reconnection as resolved by MMS. Geophys Res Lett 2016; 43:4716-4724. [PMID: 27635105 PMCID: PMC5001194 DOI: 10.1002/2016gl068747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
New Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations of small-scale (~7 ion inertial length radius) flux transfer events (FTEs) at the dayside magnetopause are reported. The 10 km MMS tetrahedron size enables their structure and properties to be calculated using a variety of multispacecraft techniques, allowing them to be identified as flux ropes, whose flux content is small (~22 kWb). The current density, calculated using plasma and magnetic field measurements independently, is found to be filamentary. Intercomparison of the plasma moments with electric and magnetic field measurements reveals structured non-frozen-in ion behavior. The data are further compared with a particle-in-cell simulation. It is concluded that these small-scale flux ropes, which are not seen to be growing, represent a distinct class of FTE which is generated on the magnetopause by secondary reconnection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - T. D. Phan
- Space Sciences LaboratoryUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - P. A. Cassak
- Department of Physics and AstronomyWest Virginia UniversityMorgantownWest VirginiaUSA
| | - D. J. Gershman
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMarylandUSA
- Department of AstronomyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMarylandUSA
| | - C. Haggerty
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of DelawareNewarkDelawareUSA
| | - K. Malakit
- Department of PhysicsMahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - M. A. Shay
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of DelawareNewarkDelawareUSA
| | - R. Mistry
- Blackett LaboratoryImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - M. Øieroset
- Space Sciences LaboratoryUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - C. T. Russell
- Department of Earth, Planetary and Space SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - J. A. Slavin
- Department of Climate and Space Sciences and EngineeringUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - M. R. Argall
- Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and SpaceUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNew HampshireUSA
| | - L. A. Avanov
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMarylandUSA
- Department of AstronomyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMarylandUSA
| | - J. L. Burch
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTexasUSA
| | - L. J. Chen
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMarylandUSA
- Department of AstronomyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMarylandUSA
| | - J. C. Dorelli
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMarylandUSA
| | - R. E. Ergun
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - B. L. Giles
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMarylandUSA
| | | | - B. Lavraud
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et PlanétologieUniversité de ToulouseToulouseFrance
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5277ToulouseFrance
| | - P. A. Lindqvist
- School of Electrical EngineeringRoyal Institute of TechnologyStockholmSweden
| | - T. E. Moore
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMarylandUSA
| | - R. Nakamura
- Space Research InstituteAustrian Academy of SciencesGrazAustria
| | - W. Paterson
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMarylandUSA
| | | | - R. J. Strangeway
- Department of Earth, Planetary and Space SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - R. B. Torbert
- Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and SpaceUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNew HampshireUSA
- Southwest Research InstituteSan AntonioTexasUSA
| | - S. Wang
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMarylandUSA
- Department of AstronomyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMarylandUSA
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11
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Burch JL, Torbert RB, Phan TD, Chen LJ, Moore TE, Ergun RE, Eastwood JP, Gershman DJ, Cassak PA, Argall MR, Wang S, Hesse M, Pollock CJ, Giles BL, Nakamura R, Mauk BH, Fuselier SA, Russell CT, Strangeway RJ, Drake JF, Shay MA, Khotyaintsev YV, Lindqvist PA, Marklund G, Wilder FD, Young DT, Torkar K, Goldstein J, Dorelli JC, Avanov LA, Oka M, Baker DN, Jaynes AN, Goodrich KA, Cohen IJ, Turner DL, Fennell JF, Blake JB, Clemmons J, Goldman M, Newman D, Petrinec SM, Trattner KJ, Lavraud B, Reiff PH, Baumjohann W, Magnes W, Steller M, Lewis W, Saito Y, Coffey V, Chandler M. Electron-scale measurements of magnetic reconnection in space. Science 2016; 352:aaf2939. [PMID: 27174677 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf2939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 438] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental physical process in plasmas whereby stored magnetic energy is converted into heat and kinetic energy of charged particles. Reconnection occurs in many astrophysical plasma environments and in laboratory plasmas. Using measurements with very high time resolution, NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission has found direct evidence for electron demagnetization and acceleration at sites along the sunward boundary of Earth's magnetosphere where the interplanetary magnetic field reconnects with the terrestrial magnetic field. We have (i) observed the conversion of magnetic energy to particle energy; (ii) measured the electric field and current, which together cause the dissipation of magnetic energy; and (iii) identified the electron population that carries the current as a result of demagnetization and acceleration within the reconnection diffusion/dissipation region.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Burch
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - R B Torbert
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA. University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - T D Phan
- University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - L-J Chen
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - T E Moore
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - R E Ergun
- University of Colorado LASP, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - J P Eastwood
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - D J Gershman
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - P A Cassak
- West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - M R Argall
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - S Wang
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - M Hesse
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - C J Pollock
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - B L Giles
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - R Nakamura
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - B H Mauk
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - S A Fuselier
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - C T Russell
- University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - J F Drake
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - M A Shay
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | | | | | - G Marklund
- Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - F D Wilder
- University of Colorado LASP, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - D T Young
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - K Torkar
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - J Goldstein
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - J C Dorelli
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - L A Avanov
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - M Oka
- University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - D N Baker
- University of Colorado LASP, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - A N Jaynes
- University of Colorado LASP, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - I J Cohen
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - D L Turner
- Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA, USA
| | | | - J B Blake
- Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA, USA
| | - J Clemmons
- Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA, USA
| | - M Goldman
- University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - D Newman
- University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - S M Petrinec
- Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | | | - B Lavraud
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Toulouse, France
| | - P H Reiff
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - W Baumjohann
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - W Magnes
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - M Steller
- Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - W Lewis
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Y Saito
- Institute for Space and Astronautical Sciences, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - V Coffey
- NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - M Chandler
- NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, USA
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12
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Perri S, Goldstein ML, Dorelli JC, Sahraoui F. Detection of small-scale structures in the dissipation regime of solar-wind turbulence. Phys Rev Lett 2012; 109:191101. [PMID: 23215371 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.109.191101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Recent observations of the solar wind have pointed out the existence of a cascade of magnetic energy from the scale of the proton Larmor radius ρ(p) down to the electron Larmor radius ρ(e) scale. In this Letter we study the spatial properties of magnetic field fluctuations in the solar wind and find that at small scales the magnetic field does not resemble a sea of homogeneous fluctuations, but rather a two-dimensional plane containing thin current sheets and discontinuities with spatial sizes ranging from l >/~ ρ(p) down to ρ(e) and below. These isolated structures may be manifestations of intermittency that localize sites of turbulent dissipation. Studying the relationship between turbulent dissipation, reconnection, and intermittency is crucial for understanding the dynamics of laboratory and astrophysical plasmas.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Perri
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università della Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
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