Electron Jet Detected by MMS at Dipolarization Front. Issue 2 (24th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, C. M.; Fu, H. S.; Vaivads, A.; Khotyaintsev, Y. V.; Gershman, D. J.; Hwang, K.‐J.; Chen, Z. Z.; Cao, D.; Xu, Y.; Yang, J.; Peng, F. Z.; Huang, S. Y.; Burch, J. L.; Giles, B. L.; Ergun, R. E.; Russell, C. T.; Lindqvist, P.‐A.; Le Contel, O.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 45:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 556
• Page End: 564
• Publication Date: 2018-01-24
• Subjects: electron jet -- dipolarization front -- electric field -- LHD waves -- electron current -- energy conversion; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2017GL076509
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Using MMS high‐resolution measurements, we present the first observation of fast electron jet ( V e ~2, 000 km/s) at a dipolarization front (DF) in the magnetotail plasma sheet. This jet, with scale comparable to the DF thickness (~ 0.9 d i ), is primarily in the tangential plane to the DF current sheet and mainly undergoes the E × B drift motion; it contributes significantly to the current system at the DF, including a localized ring‐current that can modify the DF topology. Associated with this fast jet, we observed a persistent normal electric field, strong lower hybrid drift waves, and strong energy conversion at the DF. Such strong energy conversion is primarily attributed to the electron‐jet‐driven current (E ⋅ j e ≈ 2 E ⋅ j i ), rather than the ion current suggested in previous studies. Key Points: For the first time, fast electron jet is observed at dipolarization front This jet is responsible for current and energy conversion at dipolarization front Quantitatively, the partition of energy conversion is E ⋅ j e ≈ 2 E ⋅ j i