Direct Observation of Magnetic Reconnection Resulting From Interaction Between Magnetic Flux Rope and Magnetic Hole in the Earth's Magnetosheath

Wang, Shimou; Wang, Rongsheng; Lu, Quanming; Lu, San; Huang, Kai

doi:10.1029/2023gl107968

Geophysical Research Letters

2024

DOI: 10.1029/2023gl107968

|View full text |Cite

Direct Observation of Magnetic Reconnection Resulting From Interaction Between Magnetic Flux Rope and Magnetic Hole in the Earth's Magnetosheath

Shimou Wang,

Rongsheng Wang,

Quanming Lu

et al.

Abstract: We report in situ observation of magnetic reconnection between magnetic flux rope (MFR) and magnetic hole (MH) in the magnetosheath by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. The MFR was rooted in the magnetopause and could be generated by magnetopause reconnection therein. A thin current sheet was generated due to the interaction between MFR and MH. The sub‐Alfvénic ion bulk flow and the Hall field were detected inside this thin current sheet, indicating an ongoing reconnection. An elongated electron diffusion… Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...

Citation Types

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Year Published

2024

Publication Types

Select...

Article3

Relationship

Self Cite0

Independent3

Authors

Journals

Cited by 3 publications

References 121 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Magnetic Hole and Its Resultant Electron Pitch‐Angle Distribution at Jupiter

Wang,

Fu,

Cao

et al. 2024

Geophysical Research Letters

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Magnetic hole (MH), sometimes referred to as magnetic bottle, exhibits strong magnetic fields at its neck but weak magnetic fields at its belly. Such structure has been widely reported in the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere, but has not been reported at Jupiter. Here, for the first time, we report two MHs in the Jupiter's magnetosphere by utilizing measurements of the Juno mission, with one existing in the dawn side and the other existing in the dusk side. We find that the electron pitch‐angle distribution inside the MHs can be either cigar‐type or pancake‐type. The cigar‐type distribution probably appears at the belly of the MH, whereas the pancake‐type distribution probably appears at the neck. Our analyses of the depression of magnetic fields inside the MHs support such a conjunction. These results have advanced our understanding of the transient structure and its related electron dynamics in the giant planets' magnetosphere.

show abstract

Magnetic Hole and Its Resultant Electron Pitch‐Angle Distribution at Jupiter

Wang,

Fu,

Cao

et al. 2024

Geophysical Research Letters

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Energy Conversion Associated with Intermittent Currents in the Magnetosheath Downstream of the Quasi-Parallel Shock

Li,

Wang,

et al. 2024

Magnetochemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Using the data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, we studied the energy conversion between electromagnetic fields and particles (ions and electrons) in a spacecraft rest frame inside a turbulent magnetosheath downstream of the quasi-parallel shock. The results show that the energy conversion was highly intermittent in the turbulent magnetosheath, and the perpendicular electric fields dominated the energy conversion process. The energy conversion among the electromagnetic fields, ions, and electrons was related to the current intensity. In the region with weak current, the ions gained energy from electromagnetic fields, while the electron energy was released and transferred into electromagnetic fields. In contrast, in the intense current region, the energy of ions was transferred into the electromagnetic fields, but the electrons gained energy from electromagnetic fields. The results quantitatively established the relationship between energy conversion rate and current density and revealed that the energy conversion among the electromagnetic fields, ions, and electrons was related to the local current intensity inside the shocked turbulence.

show abstract

A Bifurcated Reconnecting Current Sheet in the Turbulent Magnetosheath

Wang,

Huang

et al. 2024

Magnetochemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We report the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observation of a bifurcated reconnecting current sheet in Earth’s dayside magnetosheath. Typical signatures of the ion diffusion region, including sub-Alfvénic demagnetized ion outflow, super-Alfvénic electron flows, Hall magnetic fields, electron heating, and energy dissipation, were found when MMS traversed the current sheet. The weak ion exhaust at the current sheet center was bounded by two current peaks in which super-Alfvénic electron flow directed toward and away from the X line were observed, respectively. Both off-center current peaks were primarily carried by electrons, one of which was supported by field-aligned current, while the other was mainly supported by current driven by electric field drift. The two current peaks also exhibit other differences, including electron heating, electron pitch angle distributions, electron nongyrotropy, energy dissipation, and magnetic field curvature. An ion-scale magnetic flux rope was detected between the two current peaks where electrons showed field-aligned bidirectional distribution, in contrast to field-aligned distribution parallel to the magnetic field in two current peaks. The observed current sheet was embedded in a background shear flow. This shear flow worked together with the guide field and asymmetric field and density to affect the electron dynamics. Our results reveal the reconnection properties in this special plasma and field regime which may be common in turbulent environments.

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

Direct Observation of Magnetic Reconnection Resulting From Interaction Between Magnetic Flux Rope and Magnetic Hole in the Earth's Magnetosheath

Cited by 3 publications

References 121 publications

Magnetic Hole and Its Resultant Electron Pitch‐Angle Distribution at Jupiter

Magnetic Hole and Its Resultant Electron Pitch‐Angle Distribution at Jupiter

Energy Conversion Associated with Intermittent Currents in the Magnetosheath Downstream of the Quasi-Parallel Shock

A Bifurcated Reconnecting Current Sheet in the Turbulent Magnetosheath

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About