| 1. |
- Breuillard, H., et al.
(author)
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Multispacecraft analysis of dipolarization fronts and associated whistler wave emissions using MMS data
- 2016
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:14, s. 7279-7286
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dipolarization fronts (DFs), embedded in bursty bulk flows, play a crucial role in Earth's plasma sheet dynamics because the energy input from the solar wind is partly dissipated in their vicinity. This dissipation is in the form of strong low-frequency waves that can heat and accelerate energetic electrons up to the high-latitude plasma sheet. However, the dynamics of DF propagation and associated low-frequency waves in the magnetotail are still under debate due to instrumental limitations and spacecraft separation distances. In May 2015 the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission was in a string-of-pearls configuration with an average intersatellite distance of 160km, which allows us to study in detail the microphysics of DFs. Thus, in this letter we employ MMS data to investigate the properties of dipolarization fronts propagating earthward and associated whistler mode wave emissions. We show that the spatial dynamics of DFs are below the ion gyroradius scale in this region (approximate to 500km), which can modify the dynamics of ions in the vicinity of the DF (e.g., making their motion nonadiabatic). We also show that whistler wave dynamics have a temporal scale of the order of the ion gyroperiod (a few seconds), indicating that the perpendicular temperature anisotropy can vary on such time scales.
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| 2. |
- Breuillard, H., et al.
(author)
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New Insights into the Nature of Turbulence in the Earth's Magnetosheath Using Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission Data
- 2018
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 859:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Earth's magnetosheath, which is characterized by highly turbulent fluctuations, is usually divided into two regions of different properties as a function of the angle between the interplanetary magnetic field and the shock normal. In this study, we make use of high-time resolution instruments on board the Magnetospheric MultiScale spacecraft to determine and compare the properties of subsolar magnetosheath turbulence in both regions, i. e., downstream of the quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular bow shocks. In particular, we take advantage of the unprecedented temporal resolution of the Fast Plasma Investigation instrument to show the density fluctuations down to sub-ion scales for the first time. We show that the nature of turbulence is highly compressible down to electron scales, particularly in the quasi-parallel magnetosheath. In this region, the magnetic turbulence also shows an inertial (Kolmogorov-like) range, indicating that the fluctuations are not formed locally, in contrast with the quasi-perpendicular magnetosheath. We also show that the electromagnetic turbulence is dominated by electric fluctuations at sub-ion scales (f > 1Hz) and that magnetic and electric spectra steepen at the largest-electron scale. The latter indicates a change in the nature of turbulence at electron scales. Finally, we show that the electric fluctuations around the electron gyrofrequency are mostly parallel in the quasi-perpendicular magnetosheath, where intense whistlers are observed. This result suggests that energy dissipation, plasma heating, and acceleration might be driven by intense electrostatic parallel structures/waves, which can be linked to whistler waves.
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| 3. |
- Breuillard, H., et al.
(author)
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The Properties of Lion Roars and Electron Dynamics in Mirror Mode Waves Observed by the Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission
- 2018
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 123:1, s. 93-103
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mirror mode waves are ubiquitous in the Earth's magnetosheath, in particular behind the quasi-perpendicular shock. Embedded in these nonlinear structures, intense lion roars are often observed. Lion roars are characterized by whistler wave packets at a frequency similar to 100Hz, which are thought to be generated in the magnetic field minima. In this study, we make use of the high time resolution instruments on board the Magnetospheric MultiScale mission to investigate these waves and the associated electron dynamics in the quasi-perpendicular magnetosheath on 22 January 2016. We show that despite a core electron parallel anisotropy, lion roars can be generated locally in the range 0.05-0.2f(ce) by the perpendicular anisotropy of electrons in a particular energy range. We also show that intense lion roars can be observed up to higher frequencies due to the sharp nonlinear peaks of the signal, which appear as sharp spikes in the dynamic spectra. As a result, a high sampling rate is needed to estimate correctly their amplitude, and the latter might have been underestimated in previous studies using lower time resolution instruments. We also present for the first-time 3-D high time resolution electron velocity distribution functions in mirror modes. We demonstrate that the dynamics of electrons trapped in the mirror mode structures are consistent with the Kivelson and Southwood (1996) model. However, these electrons can also interact with the embedded lion roars: first signatures of electron quasi-linear pitch angle diffusion and possible signatures of nonlinear interaction with high-amplitude wave packets are presented. These processes can lead to electron untrapping from mirror modes.
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| 4. |
- Graham, Daniel B., et al.
(author)
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Enhanced Escape of Spacecraft Photoelectrons Caused by Langmuir and Upper Hybrid Waves
- 2018
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 123:9, s. 7534-7553
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The spacecraft potential is often used to infer rapid changes in the thermal plasma density. The variations in spacecraft potential associated with large-amplitude Langmuir and upper hybrid waves are investigated with the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. When large-amplitude Langmuir and upper hybrid waves are observed, the spacecraft potential increases. The changes in spacecraft potential are shown to be due to enhanced photoelectron escape from the spacecraft when the wave electric fields reach large amplitude. The fluctuations in spacecraft potential follow the envelope function of the Langmuir and upper hybrid waves. Comparison with the high-resolution electron moments shows that the changes in spacecraft potential associated with the waves are not due to density perturbations. Indeed, using the spacecraft potential as a density probe leads to unphysically large density fluctuations. In addition, the changes in spacecraft potential are shown to increase as density decreases: larger spacecraft potential changes are observed in the magnetosphere, than in the magnetosheath and solar wind. These results show that external electric fields can lead to unphysical results when the spacecraft potential is used as a density probe. The results suggest that fluctuations in the spacecraft potential alone cannot be used to determine whether nonlinear processes associated with Langmuir and upper hybrid waves, such as the ponderomotive force and three-wave decay, are occurring.
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| 5. |
- Johlander, Andreas, et al.
(author)
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Rippled Quasiperpendicular Shock Observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Spacecraft
- 2016
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In: Physical Review Letters. - : American Physical Society. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 117:16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Collisionless shock nonstationarity arising from microscale physics influences shock structure and particle acceleration mechanisms. Nonstationarity has been difficult to quantify due to the small spatial and temporal scales. We use the closely spaced (subgyroscale), high-time-resolution measurements from one rapid crossing of Earth's quasiperpendicular bow shock by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft to compare competing nonstationarity processes. Using MMS's high-cadence kinetic plasma measurements, we show that the shock exhibits nonstationarity in the form of ripples.
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| 6. |
- Le Contel, O., et al.
(author)
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Lower Hybrid Drift Waves and Electromagnetic Electron Space-Phase Holes Associated With Dipolarization Fronts and Field-Aligned Currents Observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission During a Substorm
- 2017
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 122:12, s. 12236-12257
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We analyze two ion scale dipolarization fronts associated with field-aligned currents detected by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission during a large substorm on 10 August 2016. The first event corresponds to a fast dawnward flow with an antiparallel current and could be generated by the wake of a previous fast earthward flow. It is associated with intense lower hybrid drift waves detected at the front and propagating dawnward with a perpendicular phase speed close to the electric drift and the ion thermal velocity. The second event corresponds to a flow reversal: from southwward/dawnward to northward/duskward associated with a parallel current consistent with a brief expansion of the plasma sheet before the front crossing and with a smaller lower hybrid drift wave activity. Electromagnetic electron phase-space holes are detected near these low-frequency drift waves during both events. The drift waves could accelerate electrons parallel to the magnetic field and produce the parallel electron drift needed to generate the electron holes. Yet we cannot rule out the possibility that the drift waves are produced by the antiparallel current associated with the fast flows, leaving the source for the electron holes unexplained.
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| 7. |
- Li, Wenya, et al.
(author)
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Upper-Hybrid Waves Driven by Meandering Electrons Around Magnetic Reconnection X Line
- 2021
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 48:16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process in collisionless space plasma environment, and plasma waves relevant to the kinetic interactions can have a significant impact on the multiscale behavior of reconnection. Here, we present Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations during an encounter of an X line of symmetric magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail. The X line is characterized by reversals of ion and electron jets and electromagnetic fields, agyrotropic electron velocity distribution functions (VDFs), and an electron-scale current sheet. MMS observe large-amplitude nonlinear upper-hybrid (UH) waves on both sides of the neutral line, and the wave amplitudes have highly localized distribution along the normal direction. The inbound meandering electrons drive the UH waves, releasing the free energy stored from the reconnection electric field along the meandering trajectories. The interaction between the meandering electrons and the UH waves may modify the balance of the reconnection electric field around the X line. Plain Language Summary The electron-scale kinetic physics in the electron diffusion region (EDR) controls how magnetic field lines break and reconnect. Electron crescent, an indicator of EDR, can drive high-frequency electrostatic waves around EDR. For the first time, the upper-hybrid (UH) waves are observed on both sides of the X line and we show the direct association between the UH waves and the reconnection electric field. The strong wave-electron interaction can change the electron-scale dynamics and may modify the reconnection electric field. This study demonstrates that the UH waves may play an important role in controlling the reconnection rate.
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| 8. |
- Norgren, C., et al.
(author)
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Electron Acceleration and Thermalization at Magnetotail Separatrices
- 2020
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 125:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study we use the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission to investigate the electron acceleration and thermalization occurring along the magnetic reconnection separatrices in the magnetotail. We find that initially cold electron lobe populations are accelerated toward the X line forming beams with energies up to a few kiloelectron volts, corresponding to a substantial fraction of the electron thermal energy inside the exhaust. The accelerated electron populations are unstable to the formation of electrostatic waves which develop into nonlinear electrostatic solitary waves. The waves' amplitudes are large enough to interact efficiently with a large part of the electron population, including the electron beam. The wave-particle interaction gradually thermalizes the beam, transforming directed drift energy to thermal energy.
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| 9. |
- Norgren, C., et al.
(author)
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Millisecond observations of nonlinear wave-electron interaction in electron phase space holes
- 2022
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In: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 29:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Electron phase space holes (EHs) associated with electron trapping are commonly observed as bipolar electric field signatures in both space and laboratory plasma. Until recently, it has not been possible to resolve EHs in electron measurements. We report observations of EHs in the plasma sheet boundary layer, here identified as the separatrix region of magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail. The intense EHs are observed together with an electron beam moving toward the X line, showing signs of thermalization. Using the electron drift instrument onboard the satellites of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we make direct millisecond measurements of the electron particle flux associated with individual electron phase space holes. The electron flux is measured at a millisecond cadence in a narrow parallel speed range within that of the trapped electrons. The flux modulations are of order unity and are direct evidence of the strong nonlinear wave-electron interaction that may effectively thermalize beams and contribute to transforming directed drift energy to thermal energy.
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| 10. |
- Voros, Z., et al.
(author)
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MMS Observation of Magnetic Reconnection in the Turbulent Magnetosheath
- 2017
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 122:11, s. 11442-11467
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper we use the full armament of the MMS (Magnetospheric Multiscale) spacecraft to study magnetic reconnection in the turbulent magnetosheath downstream of a quasi-parallel bow shock. Contrarily to the magnetopause and magnetotail cases, only a few observations of reconnection in the magnetosheath have been reported. The case study in this paper presents, for the first time, both fluid-scale and kinetic-scale signatures of an ongoing reconnection in the turbulent magnetosheath. The spacecraft are crossing the reconnection inflow and outflow regions and the ion diffusion region (IDR). Inside the reconnection outflows D shape ion distributions are observed. Inside the IDR mixing of ion populations, crescent-like velocity distributions and ion accelerations are observed. One of the spacecraft skims the outer region of the electron diffusion region, where parallel electric fields, energy dissipation/conversion, electron pressure tensor agyrotropy, electron temperature anisotropy, and electron accelerations are observed. Some of the difficulties of the observations of magnetic reconnection in turbulent plasma are also outlined.
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