Energetic electron acceleration observed by MMS in the vicinity of an X‐line crossing. Issue 14 (25th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jaynes, A. N.; Turner, D. L.; Wilder, F. D.; Osmane, A.; Baker, D. N.; Blake, J. B.; Fennell, J. F.; Cohen, I. J.; Mauk, B. H.; Reeves, G. D.; Ergun, R. E.; Giles, B. L.; Gershman, D. J.; Torbert, R. B.; Burch, J. L.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 43:Issue 14(2016)
• Page Start: 7356
• Page End: 7363
• Publication Date: 2016-07-25
• Subjects: electron acceleration -- wave‐particle interactions -- VLF waves -- magnetopause -- dayside reconnection -- MMS; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2016GL069206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: During the first months of observations, the Magnetospheric Multiscale Fly's Eye Energetic Particle Spectrometer instrument has observed several instances of electron acceleration up to >100 keV while in the vicinity of the dayside reconnection region. While particle acceleration associated with magnetic reconnection has been seen to occur up to these energies in the tail region, it had not yet been reported at the magnetopause. This study reports on observations of electron acceleration up to hundreds of keV that were recorded on 19 September 2015 around 1000 UT, in the midst of an X‐line crossing. In the region surrounding the X‐line, whistler‐mode and broadband electrostatic waves were observed simultaneously with the appearance of highly energetic electrons which exhibited significant energization in the perpendicular direction. The mechanisms by which particles may be accelerated via reconnection‐related processes are intrinsic to understanding particle dynamics among a wide range of spatial scales and plasma environments. Key Points: Energetic electron acceleration up to 100 keV is observed to occur near dayside reconnection regions using MMS instrumentation Simultaneous whistler‐mode and broadband ES waves are observed in precisely the same region, indicating a link to the enhancement process These new observations have implications for studies of the radiation belt seed population in the inner magnetosphere