Classifying Large-Amplitude Parallel Electric Fields Along the Magnetopause and Their Effect on Magnetic Reconnection
Résumé
During the first year of the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) there have been multiple observations of large amplitude parallel electric fields, as high as 100 mV/m, associated with magnetic reconnection along the terrestrial magnetopause. These electric fields have been observed as a variety of different wave phenomena and plasma structures. One distinct and rare type of plasma structures are unipolar, high amplitude, parallel electric field pulses which are observed directly adjacent to the electron diffusion region and are thought to represent secondary reconnection. Intense parallel plasma waves are interpreted to be ion acoustic waves, electron acoustic waves or beam mode, indicative of cold plasma mixing. Nonlinear structures commonly associated with Alfvénic turbulence on the magnetospheric side of the magnetopause are also reported. We present examples of these three parallel electric field signatures and examine their possible implications on magnetic reconnection.