Theory and Modeling for the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission

Hesse, Michael; Aunai, N.; Birn, J.; Cassak, P. A.; Denton, R. E.; Drake, J. F.; Gombosi, T.; Hoshino, Masahiro; Matthaeus, W. H.; Sibeck, D. G.; Zenitani, Seiji

doi:10.1007/s11214-014-0078-y

Cited by 58 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 276 publications

(282 reference statements)

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“…withb the magnetic field unit vector, the sheath/sphere subscripts denoting z =∞, −∞, respectively. These asymmetries show positive similarities with certain magnetopause properties, given typical magnetopause conditions [e.g., see Burch et al, 2016;Hesse et al, 2016]. We stress that these asymmetries relate to a particular selection of parameters, which are chosen to demonstrate an example of the types of asymmetric conditions that the distribution function (DF) can support.…”

Section: The Current Sheet Equilibriummentioning

confidence: 96%

Exact Vlasov‐Maxwell equilibria for asymmetric current sheets

Allanson

Wilson

Neukirch

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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The NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale mission has made in situ diffusion region and kinetic‐scale resolution measurements of asymmetric magnetic reconnection for the first time, in the Earth's magnetopause. The principal theoretical tool currently used to model collisionless asymmetric reconnection is particle‐in‐cell simulations. Many particle‐in‐cell simulations of asymmetric collisionless reconnection start from an asymmetric Harris‐type magnetic field but with distribution functions that are not exact equilibrium solutions of the Vlasov equation. We present new and exact equilibrium solutions of the Vlasov‐Maxwell system that are self‐consistent with one‐dimensional asymmetric current sheets, with an asymmetric Harris‐type magnetic field profile, plus a constant nonzero guide field. The distribution functions can be represented as a combination of four shifted Maxwellian distribution functions. This equilibrium describes a magnetic field configuration with more freedom than the previously known exact solution and has different bulk flow properties.

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Section: The Current Sheet Equilibriummentioning

confidence: 96%

Exact Vlasov‐Maxwell equilibria for asymmetric current sheets

Allanson

Wilson

Neukirch

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…Tensor (E = −∇ · ↔ P /en) The expected role of a divergence of the electron pressure tensor and the associated electron nongyrotropy in electron demagnetization leading to magnetic reconnection is discussed by Hesse et al (2014). Henderson et al (2006) have reported measurements of electron pressure tensor gradients using the four Cluster spacecraft.…”

Section: Divergence Of Electron Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…MMS includes a comprehensive theory and modeling team that has provided the inputs required for an optimum experiment (Hesse et al 2014). As described in the Appendix, the SMART team is significantly augmented by the addition of three Interdisciplinary Scientist Teams (Goldstein et al 2015;Phan et al 2014;Goldman et al 2015), which have provided important inputs by virtue of MHD and kinetic modeling and experience with previous multi-spacecraft magnetospheric missions (Cluster and THEMIS).…”

Section: Mission Requirementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, many fundamental questions remain to be answered. The MMS Science and Technology Definition Team report (Curtis 1999) Since that time significant progress has been made as a result of theory and numerical modeling (Hesse et al 2014), laboratory investigations (Uzdensky and Kulsrud 2006), and space-based measurements (Mozer et al 2011;Graham et al 2014). While tremendous advances have been made with data on the MHD and ion scales (both spatial and temporal), complete answers to question 1 (about kinetic processes) will depend on carefully crafted measurements at the electron scales.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Magnetospheric Multiscale Overview and Science Objectives

et al. 2015

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Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS), a NASA four-spacecraft constellation mission launched on March 12, 2015, will investigate magnetic reconnection in the boundary regions of the Earth's magnetosphere, particularly along its dayside boundary with the solar wind and the neutral sheet in the magnetic tail. The most important goal of MMS is to conduct a definitive experiment to determine what causes magnetic field lines to reconnect in a collisionless plasma. The significance of the MMS results will extend far beyond the Earth's magnetosphere because reconnection is known to occur in interplanetary space and in the solar corona where it is responsible for solar flares and the disconnection events known as coronal mass ejections. Active research is also being conducted on reconnection in the laboratory and specifically in magnetic-confinement fusion devices in which it is a limiting factor in achieving and maintaining electron temperatures high enough to initiate fusion. Finally, reconnection is proposed as the cause of numerous phenomena throughout the universe such as comet-tail disconnection events, magnetar flares, supernova ejections, and dynamics of neutron-star accretion disks. The MMS mission design is focused on answering specific questions about reconnection at the Earth's magnetosphere. The prime focus of the mission is on determining the kinetic processes occurring in the electron diffusion region that are responsible for reconnection and that determine how it is initiated; but the mission will also place that physics into the context of the broad spectrum of physical processes associated with reconnection. Connections to other disciplines such as solar physics, astrophysics, and laboratory plasma physics are expected to be made through theory and modeling as informed by the MMS results.

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“…The MMS science objectives and requirements are discussed in companion articles (Burch et al 2014, this issue;Torbert et al 2014, this issue;Hesse et al 2014, this issue), so we only provide a brief summary specific to the ADP and DSP.…”

Section: Science Objectives and Requirementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Axial Double Probe and Fields Signal Processing for the MMS Mission

et al. 2014

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The Axial Double Probe (ADP) instrument measures the DC to ∼ 100 kHz electric field along the spin axis of the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft (Burch et al., Space Sci. Rev., 2014, this issue), completing the vector electric field when combined with the spin plane double probes (SDP) (Torbert et al., Space Sci. Rev., 2014, this issue, Lindqvist et al., Space Sci. Rev., 2014. Two cylindrical sensors are separated by over 30 m tip-to-tip, the longest baseline on an axial DC electric field ever attempted in space. The ADP on each of the spacecraft consists of two identical, 12.67 m graphite coilable booms with second, smaller 2.25 m booms mounted on their ends. A significant effort was carried out to assure that the potential field of the MMS spacecraft acts equally on the two sensors and that photo-and secondary electron currents do not vary over the spacecraft spin. The ADP on MMS is expected to measure DC electric field with a precision of ∼ 1 mV/m, a resolution of ∼ 25 µV/m, and a range of ∼ ±1 V/m in most of the plasma environments MMS will encounter. The Digital Signal Processing (DSP) units on the MMS spacecraft are designed to perform analog conditioning, analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion, and digital processing on the ADP, SDP, and search coil magnetometer (SCM) (Le Contel et al., Space Sci. Rev., 2014, this issue) signals. The DSP units include digital filters, spectral processing, a high-speed burst memory, a solitary structure detector, and data compression. The DSP uses precision analog processing with, in most cases, > 100 dB in dynamic range, better that −80 dB common mode rejection in electric field (E) signal processing, and better that −80 dB cross talk between the E and SCM (B) signals. The A/D conversion is at 16 bits with ∼ 1/4 LSB accuracy and ∼ 1 LSB noise. The digital signal processing is powerful and highly flexible allowing for maximum scientific return under a limited telemetry volume. The ADP and DSP are described in this article.

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Theory and Modeling for the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission

Cited by 58 publications

References 276 publications

Exact Vlasov‐Maxwell equilibria for asymmetric current sheets

Exact Vlasov‐Maxwell equilibria for asymmetric current sheets

Magnetospheric Multiscale Overview and Science Objectives

The Axial Double Probe and Fields Signal Processing for the MMS Mission

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