Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites Observations of Parallel Electric Fields Associated with Magnetic Reconnection

Robert E. Ergun; Katherine A. Goodrich; Frederick D. Wilder; J. C. Holmes; J. E. Stawarz; S. Eriksson; A. P. Sturner; David M. Malaspina; M. E. Usanova; Roy B. Torbert; Per-Arne Lindqvist; Yuri Khotyaintsev; J. L. Burch; Robert J. Strangeway; Christopher T. Russell; Craig J. Pollock; Barbara L. Giles; M. Hesse; L. J. Chen; G. Lapenta; M. V. Goldman; D. L. Newman; Steven J. Schwartz; Jonathan P. Eastwood; T. D. Phan; F. S. Mozer; J. Drake; M. A. Shay; P. A. Cassak; R. Nakamura; G. Marklund

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.235102

Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites Observations of Parallel Electric Fields Associated with Magnetic Reconnection

Robert E. Ergun, Katherine A. Goodrich, Frederick D. Wilder, J. C. Holmes, J. E. Stawarz, S. Eriksson, A. P. Sturner, David M. Malaspina, M. E. Usanova, Roy B. Torbert, Per-Arne Lindqvist, Yuri Khotyaintsev, J. L. Burch, Robert J. Strangeway, Christopher T. Russell, Craig J. Pollock, Barbara L. Giles, M. Hesse, L. J. Chen, G. LapentaM. V. Goldman, D. L. Newman, Steven J. Schwartz, Jonathan P. Eastwood, T. D. Phan, F. S. Mozer, J. Drake, M. A. Shay, P. A. Cassak, R. Nakamura, G. Marklund

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Abstract

We report observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites of parallel electric fields (𝐸∥) associated with magnetic reconnection in the subsolar region of the Earth’s magnetopause. 𝐸∥ events near the electron diffusion region have amplitudes on the order of 100 mV/m, which are significantly larger than those predicted for an antiparallel reconnection electric field. This Letter addresses specific types of 𝐸∥ events, which appear as large-amplitude, near unipolar spikes that are associated with tangled, reconnected magnetic fields. These 𝐸∥ events are primarily in or near a current layer near the separatrix and are interpreted to be double layers that may be responsible for secondary reconnection in tangled magnetic fields or flux ropes. These results are telling of the three-dimensional nature of magnetopause reconnection and indicate that magnetopause reconnection may be often patchy and/or drive turbulence along the separatrix that results in flux ropes and/or tangled magnetic fields.

Original language	English
Article number	235102
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	116
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.235102
Publication status	Published - 10 Jun 2016
Externally published	Yes

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Ergun, R. E., Goodrich, K. A., Wilder, F. D., Holmes, J. C., Stawarz, J. E., Eriksson, S., Sturner, A. P., Malaspina, D. M., Usanova, M. E., Torbert, R. B., Lindqvist, P.-A., Khotyaintsev, Y., Burch, J. L., Strangeway, R. J., Russell, C. T., Pollock, C. J., Giles, B. L., Hesse, M., Chen, L. J., ... Marklund, G. (2016). Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites Observations of Parallel Electric Fields Associated with Magnetic Reconnection. Physical Review Letters, 116, Article 235102. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.235102

@article{f7fa518cb6a94cada3058d9394c0f00c,

title = "Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites Observations of Parallel Electric Fields Associated with Magnetic Reconnection",

abstract = "We report observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites of parallel electric fields (𝐸∥) associated with magnetic reconnection in the subsolar region of the Earth{\textquoteright}s magnetopause. 𝐸∥ events near the electron diffusion region have amplitudes on the order of 100 mV/m, which are significantly larger than those predicted for an antiparallel reconnection electric field. This Letter addresses specific types of 𝐸∥ events, which appear as large-amplitude, near unipolar spikes that are associated with tangled, reconnected magnetic fields. These 𝐸∥ events are primarily in or near a current layer near the separatrix and are interpreted to be double layers that may be responsible for secondary reconnection in tangled magnetic fields or flux ropes. These results are telling of the three-dimensional nature of magnetopause reconnection and indicate that magnetopause reconnection may be often patchy and/or drive turbulence along the separatrix that results in flux ropes and/or tangled magnetic fields.",

author = "Ergun, {Robert E.} and Goodrich, {Katherine A.} and Wilder, {Frederick D.} and Holmes, {J. C.} and Stawarz, {J. E.} and S. Eriksson and Sturner, {A. P.} and Malaspina, {David M.} and Usanova, {M. E.} and Torbert, {Roy B.} and Per-Arne Lindqvist and Yuri Khotyaintsev and Burch, {J. L.} and Strangeway, {Robert J.} and Russell, {Christopher T.} and Pollock, {Craig J.} and Giles, {Barbara L.} and M. Hesse and Chen, {L. J.} and G. Lapenta and Goldman, {M. V.} and Newman, {D. L.} and Schwartz, {Steven J.} and Eastwood, {Jonathan P.} and Phan, {T. D.} and Mozer, {F. S.} and J. Drake and Shay, {M. A.} and Cassak, {P. A.} and R. Nakamura and G. Marklund",

year = "2016",

month = jun,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.235102",

language = "English",

volume = "116",

journal = "Physical Review Letters",

issn = "0031-9007",

publisher = "American Physical Society",

}

Ergun, RE, Goodrich, KA, Wilder, FD, Holmes, JC, Stawarz, JE, Eriksson, S, Sturner, AP, Malaspina, DM, Usanova, ME, Torbert, RB, Lindqvist, P-A, Khotyaintsev, Y, Burch, JL, Strangeway, RJ, Russell, CT, Pollock, CJ, Giles, BL, Hesse, M, Chen, LJ, Lapenta, G, Goldman, MV, Newman, DL, Schwartz, SJ, Eastwood, JP, Phan, TD, Mozer, FS, Drake, J, Shay, MA, Cassak, PA, Nakamura, R & Marklund, G 2016, 'Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites Observations of Parallel Electric Fields Associated with Magnetic Reconnection', Physical Review Letters, vol. 116, 235102. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.235102

TY - JOUR

T1 - Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites Observations of Parallel Electric Fields Associated with Magnetic Reconnection

AU - Ergun, Robert E.

AU - Goodrich, Katherine A.

AU - Wilder, Frederick D.

AU - Holmes, J. C.

AU - Stawarz, J. E.

AU - Eriksson, S.

AU - Sturner, A. P.

AU - Malaspina, David M.

AU - Usanova, M. E.

AU - Torbert, Roy B.

AU - Lindqvist, Per-Arne

AU - Khotyaintsev, Yuri

AU - Burch, J. L.

AU - Strangeway, Robert J.

AU - Russell, Christopher T.

AU - Pollock, Craig J.

AU - Giles, Barbara L.

AU - Hesse, M.

AU - Chen, L. J.

AU - Lapenta, G.

AU - Goldman, M. V.

AU - Newman, D. L.

AU - Schwartz, Steven J.

AU - Eastwood, Jonathan P.

AU - Phan, T. D.

AU - Mozer, F. S.

AU - Drake, J.

AU - Shay, M. A.

AU - Cassak, P. A.

AU - Nakamura, R.

AU - Marklund, G.

PY - 2016/6/10

Y1 - 2016/6/10

N2 - We report observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites of parallel electric fields (𝐸∥) associated with magnetic reconnection in the subsolar region of the Earth’s magnetopause. 𝐸∥ events near the electron diffusion region have amplitudes on the order of 100 mV/m, which are significantly larger than those predicted for an antiparallel reconnection electric field. This Letter addresses specific types of 𝐸∥ events, which appear as large-amplitude, near unipolar spikes that are associated with tangled, reconnected magnetic fields. These 𝐸∥ events are primarily in or near a current layer near the separatrix and are interpreted to be double layers that may be responsible for secondary reconnection in tangled magnetic fields or flux ropes. These results are telling of the three-dimensional nature of magnetopause reconnection and indicate that magnetopause reconnection may be often patchy and/or drive turbulence along the separatrix that results in flux ropes and/or tangled magnetic fields.

AB - We report observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites of parallel electric fields (𝐸∥) associated with magnetic reconnection in the subsolar region of the Earth’s magnetopause. 𝐸∥ events near the electron diffusion region have amplitudes on the order of 100 mV/m, which are significantly larger than those predicted for an antiparallel reconnection electric field. This Letter addresses specific types of 𝐸∥ events, which appear as large-amplitude, near unipolar spikes that are associated with tangled, reconnected magnetic fields. These 𝐸∥ events are primarily in or near a current layer near the separatrix and are interpreted to be double layers that may be responsible for secondary reconnection in tangled magnetic fields or flux ropes. These results are telling of the three-dimensional nature of magnetopause reconnection and indicate that magnetopause reconnection may be often patchy and/or drive turbulence along the separatrix that results in flux ropes and/or tangled magnetic fields.

UR - http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000377510300004&KeyUID=WOS:000377510300004

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.235102

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.235102

M3 - Article

SN - 0031-9007

VL - 116

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

M1 - 235102

ER -

Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites Observations of Parallel Electric Fields Associated with Magnetic Reconnection

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