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.
ba7b8113-3833-40d8-a879-aab3f987455d
Schwartz, S.J.
6e89ea4b-98a3-4a7d-900e-63dd9a64cd4c
Eastwood, J.P.
6e245273-93b0-4cc1-a2c7-28388260e7d6
Burch, J.L.
b41e84fd-e56a-4b32-80cb-5f0326e66516
Ergun, R.E.
29d9ee4e-c45f-4e74-b478-3131183c6602
Fuselier, S.
8e5124fa-41eb-4239-948e-3111c92b525a
Gershman, D.J.
00afda5d-e397-4629-b978-12058b1f7c72
Giles, B.L.
eceb7be2-b272-40cb-a9af-82687b2708fd
Khotyaintsev, Y.V.
93eb939d-f13c-4b3e-ac38-2fd9e796f4dd
Lavraud, B.
0aa68373-2a9a-40e8-9991-a379b8c07328
Lindqvist, P.A.
a5abb2b2-1075-40ec-b70a-38c5641249da
Paterson, W.R.
bd6a4e41-c1bd-44ab-9c2f-3672a1d895b1
Phan, T.D.
72c09efa-a370-49ba-9e75-8ee0cccb8fa6
Russell, C.T.
9938ee7b-0590-4c5e-ac62-8658500dac22
Stawarz, J.E.
c4e1cdc9-9b48-4def-8f82-71fb15a05305
Strangeway, R.J.
2fd4cc7c-d923-448d-babf-ce95399ed494
Torbert, R.B.
dfb49866-d44d-4404-81cd-22cef59d8f03
Wilder, F.
d883dc83-461b-4e13-a035-77c27b68c9a5
16 February 2019
Gingell, I.
ba7b8113-3833-40d8-a879-aab3f987455d
Schwartz, S.J.
6e89ea4b-98a3-4a7d-900e-63dd9a64cd4c
Eastwood, J.P.
6e245273-93b0-4cc1-a2c7-28388260e7d6
Burch, J.L.
b41e84fd-e56a-4b32-80cb-5f0326e66516
Ergun, R.E.
29d9ee4e-c45f-4e74-b478-3131183c6602
Fuselier, S.
8e5124fa-41eb-4239-948e-3111c92b525a
Gershman, D.J.
00afda5d-e397-4629-b978-12058b1f7c72
Giles, B.L.
eceb7be2-b272-40cb-a9af-82687b2708fd
Khotyaintsev, Y.V.
93eb939d-f13c-4b3e-ac38-2fd9e796f4dd
Lavraud, B.
0aa68373-2a9a-40e8-9991-a379b8c07328
Lindqvist, P.A.
a5abb2b2-1075-40ec-b70a-38c5641249da
Paterson, W.R.
bd6a4e41-c1bd-44ab-9c2f-3672a1d895b1
Phan, T.D.
72c09efa-a370-49ba-9e75-8ee0cccb8fa6
Russell, C.T.
9938ee7b-0590-4c5e-ac62-8658500dac22
Stawarz, J.E.
c4e1cdc9-9b48-4def-8f82-71fb15a05305
Strangeway, R.J.
2fd4cc7c-d923-448d-babf-ce95399ed494
Torbert, R.B.
dfb49866-d44d-4404-81cd-22cef59d8f03
Wilder, F.
d883dc83-461b-4e13-a035-77c27b68c9a5
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
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 02 Apr 2020 16:31
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 03:55
Export record
Altmetrics
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
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
