Observations of magnetic reconnection in the transition region of quasi-parallel shocks
Observations of magnetic reconnection in the transition region of quasi-parallel shocks
Using observations of Earth's bow shock by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we show for the first time that active magnetic reconnection is occurring at current sheets embedded within the quasi-parallel shock's transition layer. We observe an electron jet and heating but no ion response, suggesting we have observed an electron-only mode. The lack of ion response is consistent with simulations showing reconnection onset on sub-ion time scales. We also discuss the impact of electron heating in shocks via reconnection.
bow shock, collisionless shocks, magnetic reconnection, magnetospheric multiscale
1177-1184
Gingell, I.
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Schwartz, S.J.
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Eastwood, J.P.
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Burch, J.L.
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Ergun, R.E.
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Fuselier, S.
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Gershman, D.J.
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Giles, B.L.
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Khotyaintsev, Y.V.
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Lavraud, B.
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Lindqvist, P.A.
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Paterson, W.R.
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Phan, T.D.
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Russell, C.T.
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Stawarz, J.E.
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Strangeway, R.J.
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Torbert, R.B.
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Wilder, F.
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16 February 2019
Gingell, I.
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Schwartz, S.J.
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Eastwood, J.P.
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Burch, J.L.
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Ergun, R.E.
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Fuselier, S.
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Gershman, D.J.
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Giles, B.L.
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Khotyaintsev, Y.V.
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Lavraud, B.
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Lindqvist, P.A.
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Paterson, W.R.
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Phan, T.D.
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Russell, C.T.
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Stawarz, J.E.
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Strangeway, R.J.
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Torbert, R.B.
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Wilder, F.
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Gingell, I., Schwartz, S.J., Eastwood, J.P., Burch, J.L., Ergun, R.E., Fuselier, S., Gershman, D.J., Giles, B.L., Khotyaintsev, Y.V., Lavraud, B., Lindqvist, P.A., Paterson, W.R., Phan, T.D., Russell, C.T., Stawarz, J.E., Strangeway, R.J., Torbert, R.B. and Wilder, F.
(2019)
Observations of magnetic reconnection in the transition region of quasi-parallel shocks.
Geophysical Research Letters, 46 (3), .
(doi:10.1029/2018GL081804).
Abstract
Using observations of Earth's bow shock by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we show for the first time that active magnetic reconnection is occurring at current sheets embedded within the quasi-parallel shock's transition layer. We observe an electron jet and heating but no ion response, suggesting we have observed an electron-only mode. The lack of ion response is consistent with simulations showing reconnection onset on sub-ion time scales. We also discuss the impact of electron heating in shocks via reconnection.
Text
Observations of Magnetic Reconnection in the Transition Region of Quasi-Parallel Shocks
- Accepted Manuscript
Text
2018GL081804
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 24 January 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 30 January 2019
Published date: 16 February 2019
Keywords:
bow shock, collisionless shocks, magnetic reconnection, magnetospheric multiscale
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 439047
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/439047
ISSN: 0094-8276
PURE UUID: 4faa4390-fc7f-4b78-b08a-def002a3e762
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Date deposited: 02 Apr 2020 16:31
Last modified: 06 Jun 2024 02:07
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Contributors
Author:
S.J. Schwartz
Author:
J.P. Eastwood
Author:
J.L. Burch
Author:
R.E. Ergun
Author:
S. Fuselier
Author:
D.J. Gershman
Author:
B.L. Giles
Author:
Y.V. Khotyaintsev
Author:
B. Lavraud
Author:
P.A. Lindqvist
Author:
W.R. Paterson
Author:
T.D. Phan
Author:
C.T. Russell
Author:
J.E. Stawarz
Author:
R.J. Strangeway
Author:
R.B. Torbert
Author:
F. Wilder
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