Electron Acceleration by Interaction of Two Filamentary Currents Within a Magnetopause Magnetic Flux Rope

Wang, Shimou; Wang, Rongsheng; Lu, Quanming; Burch, J. L.; Cohen, I. J.; Jaynes, Allison; Ergun, Robert E

doi:10.1029/2023gl103203

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 55 publications

(73 reference statements)

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“…The electron current density is calculated from J e = − N e e V e . Many well‐separated current spikes, that is, the filamentary currents (Eastwood et al., 2016; S. M. Wang et al., 2020, 2023), were observed inside the MFR. The current density was strong, larger than 1 μA/m 2 in some filamentary currents that were mainly supplied by the electron currents.…”

Section: Interaction Between Mfr and Mhmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Wang,

et al. 2024

Geophysical Research Letters

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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 region characterized by non‐frozen‐in electrons, magnetic‐to‐particle energy conversion, and crescent‐shaped electron distribution was detected in the reconnection exhaust. The observation provides a mechanism for the dissipation of MFRs and thus opens a new perspective on the evolution of MFRs at the magnetopause. Our work also reveals one potential fate of the MHs in the magnetosheath which could reconnect with the MFRs and further merge into the magnetopause.

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Section: Interaction Between Mfr and Mhmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Wang,

et al. 2024

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…The current sheet linked to a large-scale magnetic island can be fragmented into multiple electronscale current sheets, prompting the generation of secondary magnetic reconnection and resulting in a turbulent state. This process leads to significant electron energization [38][39][40].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of boundary conditions on the distribution of energetic electrons during collisionless magnetic reconnection

WANG 王,

HUANG 黄,

CHEN 陈

et al. 2024

Plasma Sci. Technol.

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We conducted 2-D particle-in-cell simulations to investigate the impact of boundary conditions on the evolution of magnetic reconnection. The results demonstrate that the boundary conditions are crucial to this evolution. Specifically, in the cases of traditional periodic boundary (PB) and fully-opened boundary (OB) conditions, the evolutions are quite similar before the system achieves the fastest reconnection rate. However, differences emerge between the two cases afterward. In the PB case, the reconnection electric field experiences a rapid decline and even becomes negative, indicating a reversal of the reconnection process. In contrast, the system maintains a fast reconnection stage in the OB case. Suprathermal electrons are generated near the separatrix and in the exhaust region of both simulation cases. In the electron density depletion layer and the dipolarization front region, a larger proportion of suprathermal electrons are produced in the OB case. Medium-energy electrons are mainly located in the vicinity of the X-line and downstream of the reconnection site in both cases. However, in the OB case, they can also be generated in the electron holes along the separatrix. Before the reverse reconnection stage, no high-energy electrons are present in the PB case. In contrast, about 20% of the electrons in the thin and elongated electron current layer are high-energy in the OB case.

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Particle Acceleration by Magnetic Reconnection in Geospace

Oka,

Birn,

Egedal

et al. 2023

Space Sci Rev

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Particles are accelerated to very high, non-thermal energies during explosive energy-release phenomena in space, solar, and astrophysical plasma environments. While it has been established that magnetic reconnection plays an important role in the dynamics of Earth’s magnetosphere, it remains unclear how magnetic reconnection can further explain particle acceleration to non-thermal energies. Here we review recent progress in our understanding of particle acceleration by magnetic reconnection in Earth’s magnetosphere. With improved resolutions, recent spacecraft missions have enabled detailed studies of particle acceleration at various structures such as the diffusion region, separatrix, jets, magnetic islands (flux ropes), and dipolarization front. With the guiding-center approximation of particle motion, many studies have discussed the relative importance of the parallel electric field as well as the Fermi and betatron effects. However, in order to fully understand the particle acceleration mechanism and further compare with particle acceleration in solar and astrophysical plasma environments, there is a need for further investigation of, for example, energy partition and the precise role of turbulence.

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Electron Acceleration by Interaction of Two Filamentary Currents Within a Magnetopause Magnetic Flux Rope

Cited by 5 publications

References 55 publications

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

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

The influence of boundary conditions on the distribution of energetic electrons during collisionless magnetic reconnection

Particle Acceleration by Magnetic Reconnection in Geospace

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