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Article Dans Une Revue Geophysical Research Letters Année : 2019

Energy Conversion and Electron Acceleration in the Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Region

K. R. Pritchard
  • Fonction : Auteur
J. L. Burch
  • Fonction : Auteur
S. A. Fuselier
J. M. Webster
  • Fonction : Auteur
R. B. Torbert
  • Fonction : Auteur
M. R. Argall
  • Fonction : Auteur
J. Broll
  • Fonction : Auteur
K. J. Genestreti
B. L. Giles
  • Fonction : Auteur
Olivier Le Contel
J. Mukherjee
  • Fonction : Auteur
T. D. Phan
A. C. Rager
  • Fonction : Auteur
C. T. Russell
  • Fonction : Auteur
R. J. Strangeway
  • Fonction : Auteur

Résumé

Data are analyzed from a Magnetospheric Multiscale encounter with a dayside magnetopause reconnection region on 29 December 2016. The uniqueness of the event stems from the small ( 7 km) average spacecraft separation and the sequential sampling of an electron diffusion region with electron crescent distributions. We quantitatively investigate the earthward acceleration of magnetosheath electrons through the in-plane null by the polarization electric field EN that points radially outward from the magnetopause. The results compare favorably with previous plasma simulations with one important difference that the reconnection electric field (EM) extends throughout the region of strong EN so that both fields energize electrons in the same region. This acceleration is quantified here for the first time. As the spacecraft penetrate deeper into the region of enhanced EN, the magnetic reflection of lower-energy electrons produces a thinner crescent.

Dates et versions

hal-02368222 , version 1 (18-11-2019)

Identifiants

Citer

K. R. Pritchard, J. L. Burch, S. A. Fuselier, J. M. Webster, R. B. Torbert, et al.. Energy Conversion and Electron Acceleration in the Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Region. Geophysical Research Letters, 2019, 46 (17-18), pp.10274-10282. ⟨10.1029/2019GL084636⟩. ⟨hal-02368222⟩
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