Energy dissipation in turbulent reconnection

R. Bandyopadhyay; A. Chasapis; W. H. Matthaeus; T. N. Parashar; C. C. Haggerty; M. A. Shay; D. J. Gershman; B. L. Giles; J. L. Burch

doi:10.1063/5.0071015

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Energy dissipation in turbulent reconnection

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Energy dissipation in turbulent reconnection

R. Bandyopadhyay, A. Chasapis, W. H. Matthaeus, T. N. Parashar, C. C. Haggerty, M. A. Shay, D. J. Gershman, B. L. Giles and J. L. Burch

Physics of plasmas, Vol.28(11), 112305

11/01/2021

DOI: 10.1063/5.0071015

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Abstract

We study the nature of pressure-strain interaction at reconnection sites detected by NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission. We employ data from a series of previously published case studies, including a large-scale reconnection event at the magnetopause, three small-scale reconnection events at the magnetosheath current sheets, and one example of the recently discovered electron-only reconnection. In all instances, we find that the pressure-strain shows a signature of conversion into (or from) internal energy at the reconnection site. The electron heating rate is larger than the ion heating rate and the compressive heating is dominant over the incompressive heating rate in all cases considered. The magnitude of thermal energy conversion rate is close to the electromagnetic energy conversion rate in the reconnection region. Although in most cases the pressure-strain interaction indicates that the particle internal energy is increasing, in one case, the internal energy is decreasing. These observations indicate that the pressure-strain interaction can be used as an independent measure of energy conversion and dynamics in reconnection regions, in particular, independent of measures based on the electromagnetic work. Finally, we explore a selected reconnection site in a turbulent Particle-in-Cell simulation which further supports the observational results.

Physical Sciences

Physics

Physics, Fluids & Plasmas

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Energy dissipation in turbulent reconnection
Creators: R. Bandyopadhyay - Princeton University
A. Chasapis - University of Colorado Boulder
W. H. Matthaeus - University of Delaware
T. N. Parashar - Victoria University of Wellington
C. C. Haggerty - University of Hawaii System
M. A. Shay - University of Delaware
D. J. Gershman - Goddard Space Flight Center
B. L. Giles - Goddard Space Flight Center
J. L. Burch - Southwest Research Institute
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Physics of plasmas, Vol.28(11), 112305
DOI: 10.1063/5.0071015
ISSN: 1070-664X
eISSN: 1089-7674
Publisher: AIP Publishing
Number of pages: 10
Grant note: 80NSSC21K1458; 80NSSC21K0739 / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) NASA NNX14AC39; 80NSSC19K0565 / MMS
Language: English
Date published: 11/01/2021
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9985224321402771

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