Magnetospheric Multiscale Observations of the Electron Diffusion Region of Large Guide Field Magnetic Reconnection
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We report observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) satellites of a large guide field magnetic reconnection event. The observations suggest that two of the four MMS spacecraft sampled the electron diffusion region, whereas the other two spacecraft detected the exhaust jet from the event. The guide magnetic field amplitude is approximately 4 times that of the reconnecting field. The event is accompanied by a significant parallel electric field (E∥) that is larger than predicted by simulations. The high-speed (∼300 km/s) crossing of the electron diffusion region limited the data set to one complete electron distribution inside of the electron diffusion region, which shows significant parallel heating. The data suggest that E∥ is balanced by a combination of electron inertia and a parallel gradient of the gyrotropic electron pressure.
Date Issued
2016-07-01
Date Acceptance
2016-07-01
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2016, 117 (1)
ISSN
1079-7114
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
117
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2016 American Physical Society
Sponsor
The Leverhulme Trust
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Grant Number
RF-2015-188
ST/N000692/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Physics
ASYMMETRIC RECONNECTION
EARTHS MAGNETOPAUSE
ACCELERATION
General Physics
02 Physical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
015001