Switch-off slow shock/rotational discontinuity structures in collisionless magnetic reconnection: What to look for in satellite observations
File(s)Innocenti_et_al-2017-Geophysical_Research_Letters.pdf (1.35 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In Innocenti et al. (2015) we have observed and characterized for the first time Petschek-like switch-off slow shock/rotational discontinuity (SO-SS/RD) compound structures in a 2-D fully kinetic simulation of collisionless magnetic reconnection. Observing these structures in the solar wind or in the magnetotail would corroborate the possibility that Petschek exhausts develop in collisionless media as a result of single X point collisionless reconnection. Here we highlight their signatures in simulations with the aim of easing their identification in observations. The most notable signatures include a four-peaked ion current profile in the out-of-plane direction, associated ion distribution functions, increased electron and ion anisotropy downstream the SS, and increased electron agyrotropy downstream the RDs.
Date Issued
2017-04-22
Date Acceptance
2017-03-16
Citation
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, 2017, 44 (8), pp.3447-3455
ISSN
0094-8276
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Start Page
3447
End Page
3455
Journal / Book Title
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
Volume
44
Issue
8
Copyright Statement
© 2017 American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. An edited version of this paper was published by AGU. Innocenti, M. E., E. Cazzola, R. Mistry, J. P. Eastwood, M. V. Goldman, D. L. Newman, S. Markidis, and G. Lapenta (2017), Switch-off slow shock/rotational discontinuity structures in collisionless magnetic reconnection: What to look for in satellite observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, 3447–3455, doi:10.1002/2017GL073092. To view the published open abstract, go to: https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073092
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000401847500003&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
ST/N000692/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Geology
MAGNETOTAIL RECONNECTION
PLASMA SHEET
SOLAR-WIND
GEOTAIL OBSERVATIONS
HYBRID SIMULATIONS
ION DYNAMICS
MODE SHOCKS
FIELD
WALEN
ACCELERATION
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
MD Multidisciplinary
Publication Status
Published