Electron-scale dynamics of the diffusion region during symmetric magnetic reconnection in space

R. B Torbert; J. L Burch; T. D Phan; M Hesse; M. R Argall; J Shuster; R. E Ergun; L Alm; R Nakamura; K. J Genestreti; Per-Arne Lindqvist; Y Saito; A. N Jaynes

doi:10.1126/science.aat2998

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Electron-scale dynamics of the diffusion region during symmetric magnetic reconnection in space

Journal article

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Electron-scale dynamics of the diffusion region during symmetric magnetic reconnection in space

R. B Torbert, J. L Burch, T. D Phan, M Hesse, M. R Argall, J Shuster, R. E Ergun, L Alm, R Nakamura, K. J Genestreti, …

Science, Vol.362(6421), pp.1391-1395

2018

DOI: 10.1126/science.aat2998

PMID: 30442767

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https://arxiv.org/pdf/1809.06932View

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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-Alfvenic 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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Details

Title: Subtitle: Electron-scale dynamics of the diffusion region during symmetric magnetic reconnection in space
Creators: R. B Torbert - University of New Hampshire
J. L Burch - Southwest Research Institute
T. D Phan - University of California, Berkeley
M Hesse - Southwest Research Institute
M. R Argall - University of New Hampshire
J Shuster - Goddard Space Flight Center
R. E Ergun - University of Colorado Boulder
L Alm - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
R Nakamura - Austrian Academy of Sciences
K. J Genestreti - Southwest Research Institute
Per-Arne Lindqvist - Rymd- och plasmafysik
Y Saito - Institute for Space and Astronautical Sciences, Sagamihara, Japan.
A. N Jaynes - University of Iowa, Physics and Astronomy
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Science, Vol.362(6421), pp.1391-1395
DOI: 10.1126/science.aat2998
PMID: 30442767
NLM abbreviation: Science
ISSN: 1095-9203
eISSN: 1095-9203
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: NNG04EB99C; DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: NNX08A083G-MMS IDS; DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: NNX08A083G-MMS IDS; DOI: 10.13039/501100000271, name: Science and Technology Facilities Council, award: ST/N000692/1; DOI: 10.13039/501100000271, name: Science and Technology Facilities Council, award: ST/N000692/1; name: CNES; DOI: 10.13039/501100001859, name: Swedish National Space Board; DOI: 10.13039/501100001859, name: Swedish National Space Board, award: 67/16; name: CNES; name: CNRS; name: Austrian Research Promotion Agency
Language: English
Date published: 2018
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy; University College Courses
Record Identifier: 9984199743502771

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