Simultaneous Observation of the Inner and Outer Electron Diffusion Region in Reconnection with Large Guide Field
This paper presents a simultaneous observation of the inner and outer electron diffusion region (EDR) at the dayside magnetopause by the magnetospheric multiscale (MMS) spacecraft. The EDR was observed in magnetic reconnection with a large guide field. The inner EDR was characterized by positive ${\...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acf9f4 |
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| author | Z. C. Tian M. Zhou H. Y. Man Z. H. Zhong X. H. Deng D. J. Gershman Y. V. Khotyaintsev C. T. Russell |
| author_facet | Z. C. Tian M. Zhou H. Y. Man Z. H. Zhong X. H. Deng D. J. Gershman Y. V. Khotyaintsev C. T. Russell |
| author_sort | Z. C. Tian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents a simultaneous observation of the inner and outer electron diffusion region (EDR) at the dayside magnetopause by the magnetospheric multiscale (MMS) spacecraft. The EDR was observed in magnetic reconnection with a large guide field. The inner EDR was characterized by positive ${\boldsymbol{J}}\cdot {{\boldsymbol{E}}}^{{\prime} }$ while the outer EDR is manifested by negative ${\boldsymbol{J}}\cdot {{\boldsymbol{E}}}^{{\prime} }$ and opposite out-of-plane electric field to that in the inner EDR. One pair of the spacecraft detected the inner EDR while the other pair encountered the outer EDR. Moreover, the two pairs were on the opposite side of the X-line as they observed the bidirectional accelerated electron jets. The fortuitous formation of MMS allows us to estimate the maximum length of the inner EDR as ∼36 d _e and the lower bound of the reconnection rate as 0.142 ± 0.041. These observations have far-reaching implications for understanding the electron physics in reconnection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:39:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53d75d957c734c2fbe8e742b0cdf26c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:39:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-53d75d957c734c2fbe8e742b0cdf26c72023-10-26T13:05:40ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572023-01-0195714210.3847/1538-4357/acf9f4Simultaneous Observation of the Inner and Outer Electron Diffusion Region in Reconnection with Large Guide FieldZ. C. Tian0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8251-8297M. Zhou1H. Y. Man2Z. H. Zhong3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0617-4418X. H. Deng4D. J. Gershman5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1304-4769Y. V. Khotyaintsev6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5550-3113C. T. Russell7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1639-8298School of Physics and Materials Science, Nanchang University , Nanchang 330031, People’s Republic of China ; monmentum82@gmail.com; Institute of Space Science and Technology, Nanchang University , Nanchang 330031, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Science, Nanchang University , Nanchang 330031, People’s Republic of China ; monmentum82@gmail.com; Institute of Space Science and Technology, Nanchang University , Nanchang 330031, People’s Republic of ChinaInstitute of Space Science and Technology, Nanchang University , Nanchang 330031, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Science, Nanchang University , Nanchang 330031, People’s Republic of China ; monmentum82@gmail.com; Institute of Space Science and Technology, Nanchang University , Nanchang 330031, People’s Republic of ChinaInstitute of Space Science and Technology, Nanchang University , Nanchang 330031, People’s Republic of ChinaNASA Goddard Space Flight Center , Greenbelt, MD, USASwedish Institute of Space Physics , Uppsala, SwedenUniversity of California , Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USAThis paper presents a simultaneous observation of the inner and outer electron diffusion region (EDR) at the dayside magnetopause by the magnetospheric multiscale (MMS) spacecraft. The EDR was observed in magnetic reconnection with a large guide field. The inner EDR was characterized by positive ${\boldsymbol{J}}\cdot {{\boldsymbol{E}}}^{{\prime} }$ while the outer EDR is manifested by negative ${\boldsymbol{J}}\cdot {{\boldsymbol{E}}}^{{\prime} }$ and opposite out-of-plane electric field to that in the inner EDR. One pair of the spacecraft detected the inner EDR while the other pair encountered the outer EDR. Moreover, the two pairs were on the opposite side of the X-line as they observed the bidirectional accelerated electron jets. The fortuitous formation of MMS allows us to estimate the maximum length of the inner EDR as ∼36 d _e and the lower bound of the reconnection rate as 0.142 ± 0.041. These observations have far-reaching implications for understanding the electron physics in reconnection.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acf9f4Magnetic fieldsSolar magnetic reconnectionPlasma astrophysicsPlasma physicsSpace plasmas |
| spellingShingle | Z. C. Tian M. Zhou H. Y. Man Z. H. Zhong X. H. Deng D. J. Gershman Y. V. Khotyaintsev C. T. Russell Simultaneous Observation of the Inner and Outer Electron Diffusion Region in Reconnection with Large Guide Field The Astrophysical Journal Magnetic fields Solar magnetic reconnection Plasma astrophysics Plasma physics Space plasmas |
| title | Simultaneous Observation of the Inner and Outer Electron Diffusion Region in Reconnection with Large Guide Field |
| title_full | Simultaneous Observation of the Inner and Outer Electron Diffusion Region in Reconnection with Large Guide Field |
| title_fullStr | Simultaneous Observation of the Inner and Outer Electron Diffusion Region in Reconnection with Large Guide Field |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simultaneous Observation of the Inner and Outer Electron Diffusion Region in Reconnection with Large Guide Field |
| title_short | Simultaneous Observation of the Inner and Outer Electron Diffusion Region in Reconnection with Large Guide Field |
| title_sort | simultaneous observation of the inner and outer electron diffusion region in reconnection with large guide field |
| topic | Magnetic fields Solar magnetic reconnection Plasma astrophysics Plasma physics Space plasmas |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acf9f4 |
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