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Electron Scale Structures and Magnetic Reconnection Signatures in the Turbulent MagnetosheathCollisionless space plasma turbulence can generate reconnecting thin current sheets as suggested by recent results of numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations. The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission provides the first serious opportunity to verify whether small ion-electron-scale reconnection, generated by turbulence, resembles the reconnection events frequently observed in the magnetotail or at the magnetopause. Here we investigate field and particle observations obtained by the MMS fleet in the turbulent terrestrial magnetosheath behind quasi-parallel bow shock geometry. We observe multiple small-scale current sheets during the event and present a detailed look of one of the detected structures. The emergence of thin current sheets can lead to electron scale structures. Within these structures, we see signatures of ion demagnetization, electron jets, electron heating, and agyrotropy suggesting that MMS spacecraft observe reconnection at these scales.
Document ID
20170003522
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Yordanova, E.
(Swedish Inst. of Space Physics Uppsala, Sweden)
Voros, Z.
(Oesterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Innsbruck, Austria)
Varsani, A.
(Oesterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Innsbruck, Austria)
Graham, D. B.
(Swedish Inst. of Space Physics Uppsala, Sweden)
Norgren, C.
(Swedish Inst. of Space Physics Uppsala, Sweden)
Khotyaintsev, Yu. V.
(Swedish Inst. of Space Physics Uppsala, Sweden)
Vaivads, A.
(Swedish Inst. of Space Physics Uppsala, Sweden)
Eriksson, E.
(Swedish Inst. of Space Physics Uppsala, Sweden)
Nakamura, R.
(Oesterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Innsbruck, Austria)
Lindqvist, P.-A.
(Royal Inst. of Tech. Stockholm, Sweden)
Pollock, C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Giles, B. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Avanov, L. A.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Dorelli, J. C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Gershman, D. J.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Paterson, W. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
April 17, 2017
Publication Date
June 20, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: American Geophysical Union Publications
Volume: 43
Issue: 12
ISSN: 0094-8276
e-ISSN: 1944-8007
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN41032
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: SNSB 139/12
CONTRACT_GRANT: SNSB 175/15
CONTRACT_GRANT: 313038/STORM
OTHER: P24740-N27
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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