Electron diffusion region during magnetopause reconnection with an intermediate guide field: Magnetospheric multiscale observations. Issue 5 (17th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, L.‐J.; Hesse, M.; Wang, S.; Gershman, D.; Ergun, R. E.; Burch, J.; Bessho, N.; Torbert, R. B.; Giles, B.; Webster, J.; Pollock, C.; Dorelli, J.; Moore, T.; Paterson, W.; Lavraud, B.; Strangeway, R.; Russell, C.; Khotyaintsev, Y.; Lindqvist, P.‐A.; Avanov, L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 122:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 5235
• Page End: 5246
• Publication Date: 2017-05-17
• Subjects: magnetic reconnection -- diffusion region -- electron acceleration -- electric field acceleration -- electron diffusion region; Magnetospheric physics -- Periodicals; Space environment -- Periodicals; Cosmic physics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Atmospheres -- Periodicals; Heliosphere (Astrophysics) -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 523.01
• DOI: 10.1002/2017JA024004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9380

Abstract

Abstract: An electron diffusion region (EDR) in magnetic reconnection with a guide magnetic field approximately 0.2 times the reconnecting component is encountered by the four Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft at the Earth's magnetopause. The distinct substructures in the EDR on both sides of the reconnecting current sheet are visualized with electron distribution functions that are 2 orders of magnitude higher cadence than ever achieved to enable the following new findings: (1) Motion of the demagnetized electrons plays an important role to sustain the reconnection current and contributes to the dissipation due to the nonideal electric field, (2) the finite guide field dominates over the Hall magnetic field in an electron‐scale region in the exhaust and modifies the electron flow dynamics in the EDR, (3) the reconnection current is in part carried by inflowing field‐aligned electrons in the magnetosphere part of the EDR, and (4) the reconnection electric field measured by multiple spacecraft is uniform over at least eight electron skin depths and corresponds to a reconnection rate of approximately 0.1. The observations establish the first look at the structure of the EDR under a weak but not negligible guide field. Key Points: Motion of demagnetized electrons is key to the reconnection current and collisionless dissipation under the observed guide field The guide field modifies the out‐of‐plane magnetic field pattern and the electron flow dynamics therein The reconnection electric field is measured to be ~0.1 and uniform over the interspacecraft separation in the magnetosheath EDR and inflow