Electron Trapping in Magnetic Mirror Structures at the Edge of Magnetopause Flux Ropes

S. L. Robertson; J. P. Eastwood; J. E. Stawarz; H. Hietala; T. D. Phan; B. Lavraud; J. L. Burch; B. Giles; D. J. Gershman; R. Torbert; P.‐A. Lindqvist; R. E. Ergun; C. T. Russell; R. J. Strangeway

doi:10.1029/2021JA029182

Electron Trapping in Magnetic Mirror Structures at the Edge of Magnetopause Flux Ropes

S. L. Robertson, J. P. Eastwood, J. E. Stawarz, H. Hietala, T. D. Phan, B. Lavraud, J. L. Burch, B. Giles, D. J. Gershman, R. Torbert, P.‐A. Lindqvist, R. E. Ergun, C. T. Russell, R. J. Strangeway

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Abstract

Flux ropes are a proposed site for particle energization during magnetic reconnection, with several mechanisms proposed. Here, Magnetospheric Multiscale mission observations of magnetic mirror structures on the edge of two ion-scale magnetopause flux ropes are presented. Donut-shaped features in the electron pitch angle distributions provide evidence for electron trapping in the structures. Furthermore, both events show trapping with extended 3D structure along the body of the flux rope. Potential formation mechanisms, such as the magnetic mirror instability, are examined and the evolutionary states of the structures are compared. Pressure and force analysis suggest that such structures could provide an important electron acceleration mechanism for magnetopause flux ropes, and for magnetic reconnection more generally.

Original language	English
Article number	e2021JA029182
Number of pages	17
Journal	Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume	126
Issue number	4
Early online date	28 Apr 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029182
Publication status	Published - Apr 2021
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

MMS
magnetopause
magnetic reconnection
flux rope
electron trapping

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10.1029/2021JA029182Licence: CC BY

JGR Space Physics - 2021 - Robertson - Electron Trapping in Magnetic Mirror Structures at the Edge of Magnetopause FluxFinal published version, 5.02 MBLicence: CC BY

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Robertson, S. L., Eastwood, J. P., Stawarz, J. E., Hietala, H., Phan, T. D., Lavraud, B., Burch, J. L., Giles, B., Gershman, D. J., Torbert, R., Lindqvist, P. A., Ergun, R. E., Russell, C. T., & Strangeway, R. J. (2021). Electron Trapping in Magnetic Mirror Structures at the Edge of Magnetopause Flux Ropes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 126(4), Article e2021JA029182. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029182

@article{d52de2d06c004325aed2ef811468c63e,

title = "Electron Trapping in Magnetic Mirror Structures at the Edge of Magnetopause Flux Ropes",

abstract = "Flux ropes are a proposed site for particle energization during magnetic reconnection, with several mechanisms proposed. Here, Magnetospheric Multiscale mission observations of magnetic mirror structures on the edge of two ion-scale magnetopause flux ropes are presented. Donut-shaped features in the electron pitch angle distributions provide evidence for electron trapping in the structures. Furthermore, both events show trapping with extended 3D structure along the body of the flux rope. Potential formation mechanisms, such as the magnetic mirror instability, are examined and the evolutionary states of the structures are compared. Pressure and force analysis suggest that such structures could provide an important electron acceleration mechanism for magnetopause flux ropes, and for magnetic reconnection more generally.",

keywords = "MMS, magnetopause, magnetic reconnection, flux rope, electron trapping",

author = "Robertson, {S. L.} and Eastwood, {J. P.} and Stawarz, {J. E.} and H. Hietala and Phan, {T. D.} and B. Lavraud and Burch, {J. L.} and B. Giles and Gershman, {D. J.} and R. Torbert and P.‐A. Lindqvist and Ergun, {R. E.} and Russell, {C. T.} and Strangeway, {R. J.}",

note = "Funding information: S. L. Robertson was supported by a UKRI/STFC grant ST/S505432/1 and UKRI/NERC grant NE/L002515/1. J. P. Eastwood and J. E. Stawarz were supported by UKRI/STFC grant ST/S000364/1 and J. E. Stawarz is additionally supported by the Royal Society University Research Fellow-ship URFnR1n201286. ",

year = "2021",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1029/2021JA029182",

language = "English",

volume = "126",

journal = "Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics",

issn = "2169-9380",

publisher = "American Geophysical Union",

number = "4",

}

Robertson, SL, Eastwood, JP, Stawarz, JE, Hietala, H, Phan, TD, Lavraud, B, Burch, JL, Giles, B, Gershman, DJ, Torbert, R, Lindqvist, PA, Ergun, RE, Russell, CT & Strangeway, RJ 2021, 'Electron Trapping in Magnetic Mirror Structures at the Edge of Magnetopause Flux Ropes', Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, vol. 126, no. 4, e2021JA029182. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029182

TY - JOUR

T1 - Electron Trapping in Magnetic Mirror Structures at the Edge of Magnetopause Flux Ropes

AU - Robertson, S. L.

AU - Eastwood, J. P.

AU - Stawarz, J. E.

AU - Hietala, H.

AU - Phan, T. D.

AU - Lavraud, B.

AU - Burch, J. L.

AU - Giles, B.

AU - Gershman, D. J.

AU - Torbert, R.

AU - Lindqvist, P.‐A.

AU - Ergun, R. E.

AU - Russell, C. T.

AU - Strangeway, R. J.

N1 - Funding information: S. L. Robertson was supported by a UKRI/STFC grant ST/S505432/1 and UKRI/NERC grant NE/L002515/1. J. P. Eastwood and J. E. Stawarz were supported by UKRI/STFC grant ST/S000364/1 and J. E. Stawarz is additionally supported by the Royal Society University Research Fellow-ship URFnR1n201286.

PY - 2021/4

Y1 - 2021/4

N2 - Flux ropes are a proposed site for particle energization during magnetic reconnection, with several mechanisms proposed. Here, Magnetospheric Multiscale mission observations of magnetic mirror structures on the edge of two ion-scale magnetopause flux ropes are presented. Donut-shaped features in the electron pitch angle distributions provide evidence for electron trapping in the structures. Furthermore, both events show trapping with extended 3D structure along the body of the flux rope. Potential formation mechanisms, such as the magnetic mirror instability, are examined and the evolutionary states of the structures are compared. Pressure and force analysis suggest that such structures could provide an important electron acceleration mechanism for magnetopause flux ropes, and for magnetic reconnection more generally.

AB - Flux ropes are a proposed site for particle energization during magnetic reconnection, with several mechanisms proposed. Here, Magnetospheric Multiscale mission observations of magnetic mirror structures on the edge of two ion-scale magnetopause flux ropes are presented. Donut-shaped features in the electron pitch angle distributions provide evidence for electron trapping in the structures. Furthermore, both events show trapping with extended 3D structure along the body of the flux rope. Potential formation mechanisms, such as the magnetic mirror instability, are examined and the evolutionary states of the structures are compared. Pressure and force analysis suggest that such structures could provide an important electron acceleration mechanism for magnetopause flux ropes, and for magnetic reconnection more generally.

KW - MMS

KW - magnetopause

KW - magnetic reconnection

KW - flux rope

KW - electron trapping

U2 - 10.1029/2021JA029182

DO - 10.1029/2021JA029182

M3 - Article

SN - 2169-9380

VL - 126

JO - Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics

JF - Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics

IS - 4

M1 - e2021JA029182

ER -

Electron Trapping in Magnetic Mirror Structures at the Edge of Magnetopause Flux Ropes

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Keywords

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