Solar Orbiter observations of the structure of reconnection outflow layers in the solar wind

C. J. Owen; A. C. Foster; R. Bruno; S. Livi; P. Louarn; M. Berthomier; A. Fedorov; C. Anekallu; D. Kataria; C. W. Kelly; G. R. Lewis; G. Watson; L. Bercic; D. Stansby; G. Suen; D. Verscharen; V. Fortunato; G. Nicolaou; R. T. Wicks; I. J. Rae; B. Lavraud; T. S. Horbury; H. O'Brien; V. Evans; V. Angelini

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202140944

Solar Orbiter observations of the structure of reconnection outflow layers in the solar wind

C. J. Owen^*, A. C. Foster, R. Bruno, S. Livi, P. Louarn, M. Berthomier, A. Fedorov, C. Anekallu, D. Kataria, C. W. Kelly, G. R. Lewis, G. Watson, L. Bercic, D. Stansby, G. Suen, D. Verscharen, V. Fortunato, G. Nicolaou, R. T. Wicks, I. J. RaeB. Lavraud, T. S. Horbury, H. O'Brien, V. Evans, V. Angelini

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

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Abstract

We briefly review an existing model of the structure of reconnection layers which predicts that several more distinct layers, in the form of contact discontinuities, rotational Alfvèn waves, or slow shocks, should be identifiable in solar wind reconnection events than are typically reported in studies of reconnection outflows associated with bifurcated current sheets. We re-examine this notion and recast the identification of such layers in terms of the changes associated with the boundaries of both the ion and electron outflows from the reconnection current layers. We then present a case study using Solar Orbiter MAG and SWA data, which provides evidence consistent with this picture of extended multiple layers around the bifurcated current sheet. A full confirmation of this picture requires more detailed examination of the particle distributions in this and other events. However, we believe this concept is a valuable framework for considering the nature of reconnection layers in the solar wind.

Original language	English
Article number	L8
Pages (from-to)	1-5
Number of pages	5
Journal	Astronomy & Astrophysics
Volume	656
Early online date	7 Oct 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202140944
Publication status	Published - 14 Dec 2021

UN SDGs

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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Magnetic fields
Magnetic reconnection
Plasmas
Solar wind
Sun: heliosphere

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10.1051/0004-6361/202140944

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Owen, C. J., Foster, A. C., Bruno, R., Livi, S., Louarn, P., Berthomier, M., Fedorov, A., Anekallu, C., Kataria, D., Kelly, C. W., Lewis, G. R., Watson, G., Bercic, L., Stansby, D., Suen, G., Verscharen, D., Fortunato, V., Nicolaou, G., Wicks, R. T., ... Angelini, V. (2021). Solar Orbiter observations of the structure of reconnection outflow layers in the solar wind. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 656, 1-5. Article L8. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202140944

@article{4078bb468f33459896ba7f6cecefc055,

title = "Solar Orbiter observations of the structure of reconnection outflow layers in the solar wind",

abstract = "We briefly review an existing model of the structure of reconnection layers which predicts that several more distinct layers, in the form of contact discontinuities, rotational Alfv{\`e}n waves, or slow shocks, should be identifiable in solar wind reconnection events than are typically reported in studies of reconnection outflows associated with bifurcated current sheets. We re-examine this notion and recast the identification of such layers in terms of the changes associated with the boundaries of both the ion and electron outflows from the reconnection current layers. We then present a case study using Solar Orbiter MAG and SWA data, which provides evidence consistent with this picture of extended multiple layers around the bifurcated current sheet. A full confirmation of this picture requires more detailed examination of the particle distributions in this and other events. However, we believe this concept is a valuable framework for considering the nature of reconnection layers in the solar wind.",

keywords = "Magnetic fields, Magnetic reconnection, Plasmas, Solar wind, Sun: heliosphere",

author = "Owen, \{C. J.\} and Foster, \{A. C.\} and R. Bruno and S. Livi and P. Louarn and M. Berthomier and A. Fedorov and C. Anekallu and D. Kataria and Kelly, \{C. W.\} and Lewis, \{G. R.\} and G. Watson and L. Bercic and D. Stansby and G. Suen and D. Verscharen and V. Fortunato and G. Nicolaou and Wicks, \{R. T.\} and Rae, \{I. J.\} and B. Lavraud and Horbury, \{T. S.\} and H. O'Brien and V. Evans and V. Angelini",

note = "Funding information: Solar Orbiter is a space mission of international collaboration between ESA and NASA, operated by ESA. Solar Orbiter Solar Wind Analyser (SWA) data are derived from scientific sensors which have been designed and created, and are operated under funding provided in numerous contracts from the UK Space Agency (UKSA), the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), the Centre National d{\textquoteright}Etudes Spatiales (CNES, France), the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France), the Czech contribution to the ESA PRODEX programme and NASA. Solar Orbiter SWA work at UCL/MSSL is currently funded under STFC grants ST/T001356/1 and ST/S000240/1. The Solar Orbiter Magnetometer was funded by the UK Space Agency (grant ST/T001062/1). D. V. is supported by STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship ST/P003826/1. T. H. is supported by STFC grant ST/S000364/1.",

year = "2021",

month = dec,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/202140944",

language = "English",

volume = "656",

pages = "1--5",

journal = "Astronomy \& Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

Owen, CJ, Foster, AC, Bruno, R, Livi, S, Louarn, P, Berthomier, M, Fedorov, A, Anekallu, C, Kataria, D, Kelly, CW, Lewis, GR, Watson, G, Bercic, L, Stansby, D, Suen, G, Verscharen, D, Fortunato, V, Nicolaou, G, Wicks, RT , Rae, IJ, Lavraud, B, Horbury, TS, O'Brien, H, Evans, V & Angelini, V 2021, 'Solar Orbiter observations of the structure of reconnection outflow layers in the solar wind', Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 656, L8, pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202140944

TY - JOUR

T1 - Solar Orbiter observations of the structure of reconnection outflow layers in the solar wind

AU - Owen, C. J.

AU - Foster, A. C.

AU - Bruno, R.

AU - Livi, S.

AU - Louarn, P.

AU - Berthomier, M.

AU - Fedorov, A.

AU - Anekallu, C.

AU - Kataria, D.

AU - Kelly, C. W.

AU - Lewis, G. R.

AU - Watson, G.

AU - Bercic, L.

AU - Stansby, D.

AU - Suen, G.

AU - Verscharen, D.

AU - Fortunato, V.

AU - Nicolaou, G.

AU - Wicks, R. T.

AU - Rae, I. J.

AU - Lavraud, B.

AU - Horbury, T. S.

AU - O'Brien, H.

AU - Evans, V.

AU - Angelini, V.

N1 - Funding information: Solar Orbiter is a space mission of international collaboration between ESA and NASA, operated by ESA. Solar Orbiter Solar Wind Analyser (SWA) data are derived from scientific sensors which have been designed and created, and are operated under funding provided in numerous contracts from the UK Space Agency (UKSA), the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES, France), the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France), the Czech contribution to the ESA PRODEX programme and NASA. Solar Orbiter SWA work at UCL/MSSL is currently funded under STFC grants ST/T001356/1 and ST/S000240/1. The Solar Orbiter Magnetometer was funded by the UK Space Agency (grant ST/T001062/1). D. V. is supported by STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship ST/P003826/1. T. H. is supported by STFC grant ST/S000364/1.

PY - 2021/12/14

Y1 - 2021/12/14

N2 - We briefly review an existing model of the structure of reconnection layers which predicts that several more distinct layers, in the form of contact discontinuities, rotational Alfvèn waves, or slow shocks, should be identifiable in solar wind reconnection events than are typically reported in studies of reconnection outflows associated with bifurcated current sheets. We re-examine this notion and recast the identification of such layers in terms of the changes associated with the boundaries of both the ion and electron outflows from the reconnection current layers. We then present a case study using Solar Orbiter MAG and SWA data, which provides evidence consistent with this picture of extended multiple layers around the bifurcated current sheet. A full confirmation of this picture requires more detailed examination of the particle distributions in this and other events. However, we believe this concept is a valuable framework for considering the nature of reconnection layers in the solar wind.

AB - We briefly review an existing model of the structure of reconnection layers which predicts that several more distinct layers, in the form of contact discontinuities, rotational Alfvèn waves, or slow shocks, should be identifiable in solar wind reconnection events than are typically reported in studies of reconnection outflows associated with bifurcated current sheets. We re-examine this notion and recast the identification of such layers in terms of the changes associated with the boundaries of both the ion and electron outflows from the reconnection current layers. We then present a case study using Solar Orbiter MAG and SWA data, which provides evidence consistent with this picture of extended multiple layers around the bifurcated current sheet. A full confirmation of this picture requires more detailed examination of the particle distributions in this and other events. However, we believe this concept is a valuable framework for considering the nature of reconnection layers in the solar wind.

KW - Magnetic fields

KW - Magnetic reconnection

KW - Plasmas

KW - Solar wind

KW - Sun: heliosphere

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85121581681

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/202140944

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/202140944

M3 - Letter

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 656

SP - 1

EP - 5

JO - Astronomy & Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy & Astrophysics

M1 - L8

ER -

Solar Orbiter observations of the structure of reconnection outflow layers in the solar wind

Abstract

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Keywords

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