Electron scale structures and magnetic reconnection signatures in the turbulent magnetosheath

  • E. Yordanova
  • , Z. Vörös
  • , A. Varsani
  • , D. B. Graham
  • , C. Norgren
  • , Yu V. Khotyaintsev
  • , A. Vaivads
  • , E. Eriksson
  • , R. Nakamura
  • , P. A. Lindqvist
  • , G. Marklund
  • , R. E. Ergun
  • , W. Magnes
  • , W. Baumjohann
  • , D. Fischer
  • , F. Plaschke
  • , Y. Narita
  • , C. T. Russell
  • , R. J. Strangeway
  • , O. Le Contel
  • C. Pollock, R. B. Torbert, B. J. Giles, J. L. Burch, L. A. Avanov, J. C. Dorelli, D. J. Gershman, W. R. Paterson, B. Lavraud, Y. Saito

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Collisionless space plasma turbulence can generate reconnecting thin current sheets as suggested by recent results of numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations. The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission provides the first serious opportunity to verify whether small ion-electron-scale reconnection, generated by turbulence, resembles the reconnection events frequently observed in the magnetotail or at the magnetopause. Here we investigate field and particle observations obtained by the MMS fleet in the turbulent terrestrial magnetosheath behind quasi-parallel bow shock geometry. We observe multiple small-scale current sheets during the event and present a detailed look of one of the detected structures. The emergence of thin current sheets can lead to electron scale structures. Within these structures, we see signatures of ion demagnetization, electron jets, electron heating, and agyrotropy suggesting that MMS spacecraft observe reconnection at these scales.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5969-5978
Number of pages10
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume43
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2016

Keywords

  • magnetosheath
  • reconnection
  • turbulence

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Electron scale structures and magnetic reconnection signatures in the turbulent magnetosheath'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this