Currents and associated electron scattering and bouncing near the diffusion region at Earth's magnetopause
File(s)Lavraud_et_al-2016-Geophysical_Research_Letters.pdf (2.16 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Based on high-resolution measurements from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we present the dynamics of electrons associated with current systems observed near the diffusion region of magnetic reconnection at Earth's magnetopause. Using pitch angle distributions (PAD) and magnetic curvature analysis, we demonstrate the occurrence of electron scattering in the curved magnetic field of the diffusion region down to energies of 20eV. We show that scattering occurs closer to the current sheet as the electron energy decreases. The scattering of inflowing electrons, associated with field-aligned electrostatic potentials and Hall currents, produces a new population of scattered electrons with broader PAD which bounce back and forth in the exhaust. Except at the center of the diffusion region the two populations are collocated and appear to behave adiabatically: the inflowing electron PAD focuses inward (toward lower magnetic field), while the bouncing population PAD gradually peaks at 90° away from the center (where it mirrors owing to higher magnetic field and probable field-aligned potentials).
Date Issued
2016-04-06
Date Acceptance
2016-03-22
Citation
Geophysical Research Letters, 2016, 43 (7), pp.3042-3050
ISSN
1944-8007
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Start Page
3042
End Page
3050
Journal / Book Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
43
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
©2016. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Grant Number
ST/K001051/1
Subjects
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
MD Multidisciplinary
Publication Status
Published