Energy Conversion and Electron Acceleration in the Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Region

K. R. Pritchard; J. L. Burch; S. A. Fuselier; J. M. Webster; R. B. Torbert; M. R. Argall; J. Broll; K. J. Genestreti; B. L. Giles; O. Le Contel; J. Mukherjee; T. D. Phan; A. C. Rager; C. T. Russell; R. J. Strangeway

doi:10.1029/2019GL084636

Energy Conversion and Electron Acceleration in the Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Region

K. R. Pritchard
, J. L. Burch
, S. A. Fuselier
, J. M. Webster
, R. B. Torbert
, M. R. Argall
, J. Broll
, K. J. Genestreti
, B. L. Giles
, O. Le Contel
, J. Mukherjee
, T. D. Phan
, A. C. Rager
, C. T. Russell
, R. J. Strangeway

Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Texas
Department of Space Science and Engineering
Southwest Research Institute
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Rice University
University of New Hampshire
Center for Space Physics
Boston University
Department of Heliophysics
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Université Paris-Saclay
University of California, Space Sciences Laboratory
Catholic University of America
University of California, Los Angeles

Résultats de recherche: Contribution à un journal › Article › Revue par des pairs

17 Citations (Scopus)

Résumé

Data are analyzed from a Magnetospheric Multiscale encounter with a dayside magnetopause reconnection region on 29 December 2016. The uniqueness of the event stems from the small (~7 km) average spacecraft separation and the sequential sampling of an electron diffusion region with electron crescent distributions. We quantitatively investigate the earthward acceleration of magnetosheath electrons through the in-plane null by the polarization electric field E_N that points radially outward from the magnetopause. The results compare favorably with previous plasma simulations with one important difference that the reconnection electric field (E_M) extends throughout the region of strong E_N so that both fields energize electrons in the same region. This acceleration is quantified here for the first time. As the spacecraft penetrate deeper into the region of enhanced E_N, the magnetic reflection of lower-energy electrons produces a thinner crescent.

langue originale	Anglais
Pages (de - à)	10274-10282
Nombre de pages	9
journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	46
Numéro de publication	17-18
Les DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084636
état	Publié - 1 sept. 2019
Modification externe	Oui

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10.1029/2019GL084636

Contient cette citation

Pritchard, K. R., Burch, J. L., Fuselier, S. A., Webster, J. M., Torbert, R. B., Argall, M. R., Broll, J., Genestreti, K. J., Giles, B. L., Le Contel, O., Mukherjee, J., Phan, T. D., Rager, A. C., Russell, C. T., & Strangeway, R. J. (2019). Energy Conversion and Electron Acceleration in the Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Region. Geophysical Research Letters, 46(17-18), 10274-10282. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084636

@article{86a70bc10b3448748b19ad73398d5173,

title = "Energy Conversion and Electron Acceleration in the Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Region",

abstract = "Data are analyzed from a Magnetospheric Multiscale encounter with a dayside magnetopause reconnection region on 29 December 2016. The uniqueness of the event stems from the small (\textasciitilde{}7 km) average spacecraft separation and the sequential sampling of an electron diffusion region with electron crescent distributions. We quantitatively investigate the earthward acceleration of magnetosheath electrons through the in-plane null by the polarization electric field EN that points radially outward from the magnetopause. The results compare favorably with previous plasma simulations with one important difference that the reconnection electric field (EM) extends throughout the region of strong EN so that both fields energize electrons in the same region. This acceleration is quantified here for the first time. As the spacecraft penetrate deeper into the region of enhanced EN, the magnetic reflection of lower-energy electrons produces a thinner crescent.",

keywords = "electron diffusion region, magnetic reconnection, magnetopause, magnetosheath, magnetosphere",

author = "Pritchard, \{K. R.\} and Burch, \{J. L.\} and Fuselier, \{S. A.\} and Webster, \{J. M.\} and Torbert, \{R. B.\} and Argall, \{M. R.\} and J. Broll and Genestreti, \{K. J.\} and Giles, \{B. L.\} and \{Le Contel\}, O. and J. Mukherjee and Phan, \{T. D.\} and Rager, \{A. C.\} and Russell, \{C. T.\} and Strangeway, \{R. J.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019. The Authors.",

year = "2019",

month = sep,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1029/2019GL084636",

language = "English",

volume = "46",

pages = "10274--10282",

journal = "Geophysical Research Letters",

issn = "0094-8276",

number = "17-18",

}

Pritchard, KR, Burch, JL, Fuselier, SA, Webster, JM, Torbert, RB, Argall, MR, Broll, J, Genestreti, KJ, Giles, BL, Le Contel, O, Mukherjee, J, Phan, TD, Rager, AC, Russell, CT & Strangeway, RJ 2019, 'Energy Conversion and Electron Acceleration in the Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Region', Geophysical Research Letters, VOL. 46, Numéro 17-18, p. 10274-10282. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084636

TY - JOUR

T1 - Energy Conversion and Electron Acceleration in the Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Region

AU - Pritchard, K. R.

AU - Burch, J. L.

AU - Fuselier, S. A.

AU - Webster, J. M.

AU - Torbert, R. B.

AU - Argall, M. R.

AU - Broll, J.

AU - Genestreti, K. J.

AU - Giles, B. L.

AU - Le Contel, O.

AU - Mukherjee, J.

AU - Phan, T. D.

AU - Rager, A. C.

AU - Russell, C. T.

AU - Strangeway, R. J.

PY - 2019/9/1

Y1 - 2019/9/1

N2 - Data are analyzed from a Magnetospheric Multiscale encounter with a dayside magnetopause reconnection region on 29 December 2016. The uniqueness of the event stems from the small (~7 km) average spacecraft separation and the sequential sampling of an electron diffusion region with electron crescent distributions. We quantitatively investigate the earthward acceleration of magnetosheath electrons through the in-plane null by the polarization electric field EN that points radially outward from the magnetopause. The results compare favorably with previous plasma simulations with one important difference that the reconnection electric field (EM) extends throughout the region of strong EN so that both fields energize electrons in the same region. This acceleration is quantified here for the first time. As the spacecraft penetrate deeper into the region of enhanced EN, the magnetic reflection of lower-energy electrons produces a thinner crescent.

AB - Data are analyzed from a Magnetospheric Multiscale encounter with a dayside magnetopause reconnection region on 29 December 2016. The uniqueness of the event stems from the small (~7 km) average spacecraft separation and the sequential sampling of an electron diffusion region with electron crescent distributions. We quantitatively investigate the earthward acceleration of magnetosheath electrons through the in-plane null by the polarization electric field EN that points radially outward from the magnetopause. The results compare favorably with previous plasma simulations with one important difference that the reconnection electric field (EM) extends throughout the region of strong EN so that both fields energize electrons in the same region. This acceleration is quantified here for the first time. As the spacecraft penetrate deeper into the region of enhanced EN, the magnetic reflection of lower-energy electrons produces a thinner crescent.

KW - electron diffusion region

KW - magnetic reconnection

KW - magnetopause

KW - magnetosheath

KW - magnetosphere

U2 - 10.1029/2019GL084636

DO - 10.1029/2019GL084636

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85074074555

SN - 0094-8276

VL - 46

SP - 10274

EP - 10282

JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

IS - 17-18

ER -

Energy Conversion and Electron Acceleration in the Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Region

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