Journal article
Kinetic evidence of magnetic reconnection due to Kelvin-Helmholtz waves
Geophysical research letters, Vol.43(11), pp.5635-5643
06/16/2016
DOI: 10.1002/2016GL069192
Abstract
The Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability at the Earth's magnetopause is predominantly excited during northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Magnetic reconnection due to KH waves has been suggested as one of the mechanisms to transfer solar wind plasma into the magnetosphere. We investigate KH waves observed at the magnetopause by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission; in particular, we study the trailing edges of KH waves with Alfvenic ion jets. We observe gradual mixing of magnetospheric and magnetosheath ions at the boundary layer. The magnetospheric electrons with energy up to 80 keV are observed on the magnetosheath side of the jets, which indicates that they escape into the magnetosheath through reconnected magnetic field lines. At the same time, the low-energy (below 100 eV) magnetosheath electrons enter the magnetosphere and are heated in the field-aligned direction at the high-density edge of the jets. Our observations provide unambiguous kinetic evidence for ongoing reconnection due to KH waves. Key Points * Magnetosheath electrons enter magnetosphere and magnetospheric electrons escape due to reconnection * Field-aligned heating of magnetosheath electrons at the high-density edges of the jets * Gradual ion mixing across the magnetopause
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Kinetic evidence of magnetic reconnection due to Kelvin-Helmholtz waves
- Creators
- W Li - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsM Andre - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsYuV KhotyaintsevA Vaivads - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsD Graham - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsS Toledo-Redondo - European Space Astronomy CentreC Norgren - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsP Henri - Université d'OrléansC Wang - National Space Science CenterB Tang - National Space Science CenterB Lavraud - Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST)Y Vernisse - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et PlanétologieD Turner - The Aerospace CorporationJ Burch - Southwest Research InstituteR Torbert - University of New HampshireW Magnes - Space Research InstituteC Russell - University of California, Los AngelesJ Blake - The Aerospace CorporationB Mauk - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryB GilesC Pollock - Denali Scientific Healy Alaska USAJ Fennell - The Aerospace CorporationA Jaynes - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsL A Avanov - Goddard Space Flight CenterJ Dorelli - Goddard Space Flight CenterD Gershman - University of Maryland, College ParkW Paterson - Goddard Space Flight CenterY Saito - Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencyR Strangeway - University of California, Los Angeles
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.43(11), pp.5635-5643
- DOI
- 10.1002/2016GL069192
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/501100001859, name: Swedish National Space Board, award: 164/14, 176/15
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/16/2016
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy; University College Courses
- Record Identifier
- 9984428812202771
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