Journal article
Energetic electron acceleration observed by MMS in the vicinity of an X‐line crossing
Geophysical research letters, Vol.43(14), pp.7356-7363
07/28/2016
DOI: 10.1002/2016GL069206
Abstract
During the first months of observations, the Magnetospheric Multiscale Fly's Eye Energetic Particle Spectrometer instrument has observed several instances of electron acceleration up to >100 keV while in the vicinity of the dayside reconnection region. While particle acceleration associated with magnetic reconnection has been seen to occur up to these energies in the tail region, it had not yet been reported at the magnetopause. This study reports on observations of electron acceleration up to hundreds of keV that were recorded on 19 September 2015 around 1000 UT, in the midst of an X‐line crossing. In the region surrounding the X‐line, whistler‐mode and broadband electrostatic waves were observed simultaneously with the appearance of highly energetic electrons which exhibited significant energization in the perpendicular direction. The mechanisms by which particles may be accelerated via reconnection‐related processes are intrinsic to understanding particle dynamics among a wide range of spatial scales and plasma environments.
Key Points
Energetic electron acceleration up to 100 keV is observed to occur near dayside reconnection regions using MMS instrumentation
Simultaneous whistler‐mode and broadband ES waves are observed in precisely the same region, indicating a link to the enhancement process
These new observations have implications for studies of the radiation belt seed population in the inner magnetosphere
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Energetic electron acceleration observed by MMS in the vicinity of an X‐line crossing
- Creators
- A. N Jaynes - University of Colorado BoulderD. L Turner - The Aerospace CorporationF. D Wilder - University of Colorado BoulderA Osmane - Aalto UniversityD. N Baker - University of Colorado BoulderJ. B Blake - The Aerospace CorporationJ. F Fennell - The Aerospace CorporationI. J Cohen - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryB. H Mauk - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryG. D Reeves - Los Alamos National LaboratoryR. E Ergun - University of Colorado BoulderB. L Giles - Goddard Space Flight CenterD. J Gershman - Goddard Space Flight CenterR. B Torbert - University of New HampshireJ. L Burch - Southwest Research Institute
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.43(14), pp.7356-7363
- DOI
- 10.1002/2016GL069206
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- NASA (NNG04EB99C)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/28/2016
- Academic Unit
- University College Courses; Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199726902771
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