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1.
  • Zouganelis, I., et al. (författare)
  • The Solar Orbiter Science Activity Plan : Translating solar and heliospheric physics questions into action
  • 2020
  • Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP SCIENCES S A. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 642
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Solar Orbiter is the first space mission observing the solar plasma both in situ and remotely, from a close distance, in and out of the ecliptic. The ultimate goal is to understand how the Sun produces and controls the heliosphere, filling the Solar System and driving the planetary environments. With six remote-sensing and four in-situ instrument suites, the coordination and planning of the operations are essential to address the following four top-level science questions: (1) What drives the solar wind and where does the coronal magnetic field originate?; (2) How do solar transients drive heliospheric variability?; (3) How do solar eruptions produce energetic particle radiation that fills the heliosphere?; (4) How does the solar dynamo work and drive connections between the Sun and the heliosphere? Maximising the mission's science return requires considering the characteristics of each orbit, including the relative position of the spacecraft to Earth (affecting downlink rates), trajectory events (such as gravitational assist manoeuvres), and the phase of the solar activity cycle. Furthermore, since each orbit's science telemetry will be downloaded over the course of the following orbit, science operations must be planned at mission level, rather than at the level of individual orbits. It is important to explore the way in which those science questions are translated into an actual plan of observations that fits into the mission, thus ensuring that no opportunities are missed. First, the overarching goals are broken down into specific, answerable questions along with the required observations and the so-called Science Activity Plan (SAP) is developed to achieve this. The SAP groups objectives that require similar observations into Solar Orbiter Observing Plans, resulting in a strategic, top-level view of the optimal opportunities for science observations during the mission lifetime. This allows for all four mission goals to be addressed. In this paper, we introduce Solar Orbiter's SAP through a series of examples and the strategy being followed.
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2.
  • Lavraud, B., et al. (författare)
  • Currents and associated electron scattering and bouncing near the diffusion region at Earth's magnetopause
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:7, s. 3042-3050
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Based on high-resolution measurements from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we present the dynamics of electrons associated with current systems observed near the diffusion region of magnetic reconnection at Earth's magnetopause. Using pitch angle distributions (PAD) and magnetic curvature analysis, we demonstrate the occurrence of electron scattering in the curved magnetic field of the diffusion region down to energies of 20 eV. We show that scattering occurs closer to the current sheet as the electron energy decreases. The scattering of inflowing electrons, associated with field-aligned electrostatic potentials and Hall currents, produces a new population of scattered electrons with broader PAD which bounce back and forth in the exhaust. Except at the center of the diffusion region the two populations are collocated and appear to behave adiabatically: the inflowing electron PAD focuses inward (toward lower magnetic field), while the bouncing population PAD gradually peaks at 90 degrees away from the center (where it mirrors owing to higher magnetic field and probable field-aligned potentials).
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3.
  • Breuillard, H., et al. (författare)
  • The Properties of Lion Roars and Electron Dynamics in Mirror Mode Waves Observed by the Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission
  • 2018
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 123:1, s. 93-103
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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.
  • Le Contel, O., et al. (författare)
  • 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
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 122:12, s. 12236-12257
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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5.
  • Maksimovic, M., et al. (författare)
  • First observations and performance of the RPW instrument on board the Solar Orbiter mission
  • 2021
  • Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument on the ESA Solar Orbiter mission is designed to measure in situ magnetic and electric fields and waves from the continuum up to several hundred kHz. The RPW also observes solar and heliospheric radio emissions up to 16 MHz. It was switched on and its antennae were successfully deployed two days after the launch of Solar Orbiter on February 10, 2020. Since then, the instrument has acquired enough data to make it possible to assess its performance and the electromagnetic disturbances it experiences. In this article, we assess its scientific performance and present the first RPW observations. In particular, we focus on a statistical analysis of the first observations of interplanetary dust by the instrument's Thermal Noise Receiver. We also review the electro-magnetic disturbances that RPW suffers, especially those which potential users of the instrument data should be aware of before starting their research work.
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6.
  • Soucek, J., et al. (författare)
  • EMC Aspects Of Turbulence Heating Observer (THOR) Spacecraft
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Proceedings Of 2016 Esa Workshop On Aerospace Emc (Aerospace Emc). - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). - 9789292213039
  • Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Turbulence Heating ObserveR (THOR) is a spacecraft mission dedicated to the study of plasma turbulence in near-Earth space. The mission is currently under study for implementation as a part of ESA Cosmic Vision program. THOR will involve a single spinning spacecraft equipped with state of the art instruments capable of sensitive measurements of electromagnetic fields and plasma particles. The sensitive electric and magnetic field measurements require that the spacecraft-generated emissions are restricted and strictly controlled; therefore a comprehensive EMC program has been put in place already during the study phase. The THOR study team and a dedicated EMC working group are formulating the mission EMC requirements already in the earliest phase of the project to avoid later delays and cost increases related to EMC. This article introduces the THOR mission and reviews the current state of its EMC requirements.
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7.
  • Breuillard, H., et al. (författare)
  • Multispacecraft analysis of dipolarization fronts and associated whistler wave emissions using MMS data
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:14, s. 7279-7286
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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8.
  • Ergun, R. E., et al. (författare)
  • Drift waves, intense parallel electric fields, and turbulence associated with asymmetric magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause
  • 2017
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 44:7, s. 2978-2986
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Observations of magnetic reconnection at Earth's magnetopause often display asymmetric structures that are accompanied by strong magnetic field (B) fluctuations and large-amplitude parallel electric fields (E-||). The B turbulence is most intense at frequencies above the ion cyclotron frequency and below the lower hybrid frequency. The B fluctuations are consistent with a thin, oscillating current sheet that is corrugated along the electron flow direction (along the X line), which is a type of electromagnetic drift wave. Near the X line, electron flow is primarily due to a Hall electric field, which diverts ion flow in asymmetric reconnection and accompanies the instability. Importantly, the drift waves appear to drive strong parallel currents which, in turn, generate large-amplitude (similar to 100mV/m) E-|| in the form of nonlinear waves and structures. These observations suggest that turbulence may be common in asymmetric reconnection, penetrate into the electron diffusion region, and possibly influence the magnetic reconnection process.
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9.
  • Maksimovic, M., et al. (författare)
  • The Solar Orbiter Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument
  • 2020
  • Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP SCIENCES S A. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 642
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument on the ESA Solar Orbiter mission is described in this paper. This instrument is designed to measure in-situ magnetic and electric fields and waves from the continuous to a few hundreds of kHz. RPW will also observe solar radio emissions up to 16 MHz. The RPW instrument is of primary importance to the Solar Orbiter mission and science requirements since it is essential to answer three of the four mission overarching science objectives. In addition RPW will exchange on-board data with the other in-situ instruments in order to process algorithms for interplanetary shocks and type III langmuir waves detections.
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10.
  • Alqeeq, S. W., et al. (författare)
  • Investigation of the homogeneity of energy conversion processes at dipolarization fronts from MMS measurements
  • 2022
  • Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 29:1
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We report on six dipolarization fronts (DFs) embedded in fast earthward flows detected by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission during a substorm event on 23 July 2017. We analyzed Ohm's law for each event and found that ions are mostly decoupled from the magnetic field by Hall fields. However, the electron pressure gradient term is also contributing to the ion decoupling and likely responsible for an electron decoupling at DF. We also analyzed the energy conversion process and found that the energy in the spacecraft frame is transferred from the electromagnetic field to the plasma (J & BULL; E > 0) ahead or at the DF, whereas it is the opposite (J & BULL; E < 0) behind the front. This reversal is mainly due to a local reversal of the cross-tail current indicating a substructure of the DF. In the fluid frame, we found that the energy is mostly transferred from the plasma to the electromagnetic field (J & BULL; E & PRIME; < 0) and should contribute to the deceleration of the fast flow. However, we show that the energy conversion process is not homogeneous at the electron scales due to electric field fluctuations likely related to lower-hybrid drift waves. Our results suggest that the role of DF in the global energy cycle of the magnetosphere still deserves more investigation. In particular, statistical studies on DF are required to be carried out with caution due to these electron scale substructures.
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11.
  • Breuillard, H., et al. (författare)
  • New Insights into the Nature of Turbulence in the Earth's Magnetosheath Using Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission Data
  • 2018
  • Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 859:2
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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12.
  • Chust, T., et al. (författare)
  • Observations of whistler mode waves by Solar Orbiter's RPW Low Frequency Receiver (LFR) : In-flight performance and first results
  • 2021
  • Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Context. The Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument is one of the four in situ instruments of the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter mission, which was successfully launched on February 10, 2020. The Low Frequency Receiver (LFR) is one of its subsystems, designed to characterize the low frequency electric (quasi-DC - 10 kHz) and magnetic (similar to 1 Hz-10 kHz) fields that develop, propagate, interact, and dissipate in the solar wind plasma. Combined with observations of the particles and the DC magnetic field, LFR measurements will help to improve the understanding of the heating and acceleration processes at work during solar wind expansion.Aims. The capability of LFR to observe and analyze a variety of low frequency plasma waves can be demontrated by taking advantage of whistler mode wave observations made just after the near-Earth commissioning phase of Solar Orbiter. In particular, this is related to its capability of measuring the wave normal vector, the phase velocity, and the Poynting vector for determining the propagation characteristics of the waves.Methods. Several case studies of whistler mode waves are presented, using all possible LFR onboard digital processing products, waveforms, spectral matrices, and basic wave parameters.Results. Here, we show that whistler mode waves can be very properly identified and characterized, along with their Doppler-shifted frequency, based on the waveform capture as well as on the LFR onboard spectral analysis.Conclusions. Despite the fact that calibrations of the electric and magnetic data still require some improvement, these first whistler observations show a good overall consistency between the RPW LFR data, indicating that many science results on these waves, as well as on other plasma waves, can be obtained by Solar Orbiter in the solar wind.
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13.
  • Ergun, R. E., et al. (författare)
  • Magnetic Reconnection, Turbulence, and Particle Acceleration : Observations in the Earth's Magnetotail
  • 2018
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing Ltd. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 45:8, s. 3338-3347
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We report observations of turbulent dissipation and particle acceleration from large-amplitude electric fields (E) associated with strong magnetic field (B) fluctuations in the Earth's plasma sheet. The turbulence occurs in a region of depleted density with anti-earthward flows followed by earthward flows suggesting ongoing magnetic reconnection. In the turbulent region, ions and electrons have a significant increase in energy, occasionally >100 keV, and strong variation. There are numerous occurrences of |E| >100 mV/m including occurrences of large potentials (>1 kV) parallel to B and occurrences with extraordinarily large J · E (J is current density). In this event, we find that the perpendicular contribution of J · E with frequencies near or below the ion cyclotron frequency (fci) provide the majority net positive J · E. Large-amplitude parallel E events with frequencies above fci to several times the lower hybrid frequency provide significant dissipation and can result in energetic electron acceleration.
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14.
  • Ergun, R. E., et al. (författare)
  • Magnetospheric Multiscale observations of large-amplitude, parallel, electrostatic waves associated with magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:11, s. 5626-5634
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We report observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites of large-amplitude, parallel, electrostatic waves associated with magnetic reconnection at the Earth's magnetopause. The observed waves have parallel electric fields (E-||) with amplitudes on the order of 100mV/m and display nonlinear characteristics that suggest a possible net E-||. These waves are observed within the ion diffusion region and adjacent to (within several electron skin depths) the electron diffusion region. They are in or near the magnetosphere side current layer. Simulation results support that the strong electrostatic linear and nonlinear wave activities appear to be driven by a two stream instability, which is a consequence of mixing cold (<10eV) plasma in the magnetosphere with warm (similar to 100eV) plasma from the magnetosheath on a freshly reconnected magnetic field line. The frequent observation of these waves suggests that cold plasma is often present near the magnetopause.
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15.
  • Khotyaintsev, Yuri V., et al. (författare)
  • Electron jet of asymmetric reconnection
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:11, s. 5571-5580
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We present Magnetospheric Multiscale observations of an electron-scale current sheet and electron outflow jet for asymmetric reconnection with guide field at the subsolar magnetopause. The electron jet observed within the reconnection region has an electron Mach number of 0.35 and is associated with electron agyrotropy. The jet is unstable to an electrostatic instability which generates intense waves with E-vertical bar amplitudes reaching up to 300mVm(-1) and potentials up to 20% of the electron thermal energy. We see evidence of interaction between the waves and the electron beam, leading to quick thermalization of the beam and stabilization of the instability. The wave phase speed is comparable to the ion thermal speed, suggesting that the instability is of Buneman type, and therefore introduces electron-ion drag and leads to braking of the electron flow. Our observations demonstrate that electrostatic turbulence plays an important role in the electron-scale physics of asymmetric reconnection.
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16.
  • Phan, T. D., et al. (författare)
  • Electron magnetic reconnection without ion coupling in Earth's turbulent magnetosheath
  • 2018
  • Ingår i: Nature. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 557:7704, s. 202-
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Magnetic reconnection in current sheets is a magnetic-to-particle energy conversion process that is fundamental to many space and laboratory plasma systems. In the standard model of reconnection, this process occurs in a minuscule electron-scale diffusion region(1,2). On larger scales, ions couple to the newly reconnected magnetic-field lines and are ejected away from the diffusion region in the form of bi-directional ion jets at the ion Alfven speed(3-5). Much of the energy conversion occurs in spatially extended ion exhausts downstream of the diffusion region(6). In turbulent plasmas, which contain a large number of small-scale current sheets, reconnection has long been suggested to have a major role in the dissipation of turbulent energy at kinetic scales(7-11). However, evidence for reconnection plasma jetting in small-scale turbulent plasmas has so far been lacking. Here we report observations made in Earth's turbulent magnetosheath region (downstream of the bow shock) of an electron-scale current sheet in which diverging bi-directional super-ion-Alfvenic electron jets, parallel electric fields and enhanced magnetic-to-particle energy conversion were detected. Contrary to the standard model of reconnection, the thin reconnecting current sheet was not embedded in a wider ion-scale current layer and no ion jets were detected. Observations of this and other similar, but unidirectional, electron jet events without signatures of ion reconnection reveal a form of reconnection that can drive turbulent energy transfer and dissipation in electron-scale current sheets without ion coupling.
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17.
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18.
  • Alqeeq, S. W., et al. (författare)
  • Two Classes of Equatorial Magnetotail Dipolarization Fronts Observed by Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission : A Statistical Overview
  • 2023
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 128:10
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We carried out a statistical study of equatorial dipolarization fronts (DFs) detected by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission during the full 2017 Earth's magnetotail season. We found that two DF classes are distinguished: class I (74.4%) corresponds to the standard DF properties and energy dissipation and a new class II (25.6%). This new class includes the six DF discussed in Alqeeq et al. (2022, ) and corresponds to a bump of the magnetic field associated with a minimum in the ion and electron pressures and a reversal of the energy conversion process. The possible origin of this second class is discussed. Both DF classes show that the energy conversion process in the spacecraft frame is driven by the diamagnetic current dominated by the ion pressure gradient. In the fluid frame, it is driven by the electron pressure gradient. In addition, we have shown that the energy conversion processes are not homogeneous at the electron scale mostly due to the variations of the electric fields for both DF classes.
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19.
  • Chasapis, A., et al. (författare)
  • Electron Heating at Kinetic Scales in Magnetosheath Turbulence
  • 2017
  • Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 836:2
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We present a statistical study of coherent structures at kinetic scales, using data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in the Earth's magnetosheath. We implemented the multi-spacecraft partial variance of increments (PVI) technique to detect these structures, which are associated with intermittency at kinetic scales. We examine the properties of the electron heating occurring within such structures. We find that, statistically, structures with a high PVI index are regions of significant electron heating. We also focus on one such structure, a current sheet, which shows some signatures consistent with magnetic reconnection. Strong parallel electron heating coincides with whistler emissions at the edges of the current sheet.
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20.
  • Chasapis, A., et al. (författare)
  • Thin Current Sheets and Associated Electron Heating in Turbulent Space Plasma
  • 2015
  • Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 804:1
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Intermittent structures, such as thin current sheets, are abundant in turbulent plasmas. Numerical simulations indicate that such current sheets are important sites of energy dissipation and particle heating occurring at kinetic scales. However, direct evidence of dissipation and associated heating within current sheets is scarce. Here, we show a new statistical study of local electron heating within proton-scale current sheets by using high-resolution spacecraft data. Current sheets are detected using the Partial Variance of Increments (PVI) method which identifies regions of strong intermittency. We find that strong electron heating occurs in high PVI (>3) current sheets while no significant heating occurs in low PVI cases (<3), indicating that the former are dominant for energy dissipation. Current sheets corresponding to very high PVI (>5) show the strongest heating and most of the time are consistent with ongoing magnetic reconnection. This suggests that reconnection is important for electron heating and dissipation at kinetic scales in turbulent plasmas.
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21.
  • Huang, S. Y., et al. (författare)
  • MMS observations of ion-scale magnetic island in the magnetosheath turbulent plasma
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:15, s. 7850-7858
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • In this letter, first observations of ion-scale magnetic island from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in the magnetosheath turbulent plasma are presented. The magnetic island is characterized by bipolar variation of magnetic fields with magnetic field compression, strong core field, density depletion, and strong currents dominated by the parallel component to the local magnetic field. The estimated size of magnetic island is about 8 d(i), where d(i) is the ion inertial length. Distinct particle behaviors and wave activities inside and at the edges of the magnetic island are observed: parallel electron beam accompanied with electrostatic solitary waves and strong electromagnetic lower hybrid drift waves inside the magnetic island and bidirectional electron beams, whistler waves, weak electromagnetic lower hybrid drift waves, and strong broadband electrostatic noise at the edges of the magnetic island. Our observations demonstrate that highly dynamical, strong wave activities and electron-scale physics occur within ion-scale magnetic islands in the magnetosheath turbulent plasma.
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22.
  • Le Contel, O., et al. (författare)
  • Whistler mode waves and Hall fields detected by MMS during a dayside magnetopause crossing
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:12, s. 5943-5952
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We present Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission measurements during a full magnetopause crossing associated with an enhanced southward ion flow. A quasi-steady magnetospheric whistler mode wave emission propagating toward the reconnection region with quasi-parallel and oblique wave angles is detected just before the opening of the magnetic field lines and the detection of escaping energetic electrons. Its source is likely the perpendicular temperature anisotropy of magnetospheric energetic electrons. In this region, perpendicular and parallel currents as well as the Hall electric field are calculated and found to be consistent with the decoupling of ions from the magnetic field and the crossing of a magnetospheric separatrix region. On the magnetosheath side, Hall electric fields are found smaller as the density is larger but still consistent with the decoupling of ions. Intense quasi-parallel whistler wave emissions are detected propagating both toward and away from the reconnection region in association with a perpendicular anisotropy of the high-energy part of the magnetosheath electron population and a strong perpendicular current, which suggests that in addition to the electron diffusion region, magnetosheath separatrices could be a source region for whistler waves.
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23.
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24.
  • Retinò, A., et al. (författare)
  • Particle energization in space plasmas : towards a multi-point, multi-scale plasma observatory
  • 2021
  • Ingår i: Experimental astronomy. - : Springer Nature. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508.
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This White Paper outlines the importance of addressing the fundamental science theme “How are charged particles energized in space plasmas” through a future ESA mission. The White Paper presents five compelling science questions related to particle energization by shocks, reconnection, waves and turbulence, jets and their combinations. Answering these questions requires resolving scale coupling, nonlinearity, and nonstationarity, which cannot be done with existing multi-point observations. In situ measurements from a multi-point, multi-scale L-class Plasma Observatory consisting of at least seven spacecraft covering fluid, ion, and electron scales are needed. The Plasma Observatory will enable a paradigm shift in our comprehension of particle energization and space plasma physics in general, with a very important impact on solar and astrophysical plasmas. It will be the next logical step following Cluster, THEMIS, and MMS for the very large and active European space plasmas community. Being one of the cornerstone missions of the future ESA Voyage 2050 science programme, it would further strengthen the European scientific and technical leadership in this important field.
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25.
  • Vaivads, Andris, et al. (författare)
  • EIDOSCOPE : particle acceleration at plasma boundaries
  • 2012
  • Ingår i: Experimental astronomy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508. ; 33:2-3, s. 491-527
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We describe the mission concept of how ESA can make a major contribution to the Japanese Canadian multi-spacecraft mission SCOPE by adding one cost-effective spacecraft EIDO (Electron and Ion Dynamics Observatory), which has a comprehensive and optimized plasma payload to address the physics of particle acceleration. The combined mission EIDOSCOPE will distinguish amongst and quantify the governing processes of particle acceleration at several important plasma boundaries and their associated boundary layers: collisionless shocks, plasma jet fronts, thin current sheets and turbulent boundary layers. Particle acceleration and associated cross-scale coupling is one of the key outstanding topics to be addressed in the Plasma Universe. The very important science questions that only the combined EIDOSCOPE mission will be able to tackle are: 1) Quantitatively, what are the processes and efficiencies with which both electrons and ions are selectively injected and subsequently accelerated by collisionless shocks? 2) How does small-scale electron and ion acceleration at jet fronts due to kinetic processes couple simultaneously to large scale acceleration due to fluid (MHD) mechanisms? 3) How does multi-scale coupling govern acceleration mechanisms at electron, ion and fluid scales in thin current sheets? 4) How do particle acceleration processes inside turbulent boundary layers depend on turbulence properties at ion/electron scales? EIDO particle instruments are capable of resolving full 3D particle distribution functions in both thermal and suprathermal regimes and at high enough temporal resolution to resolve the relevant scales even in very dynamic plasma processes. The EIDO spin axis is designed to be sun-pointing, allowing EIDO to carry out the most sensitive electric field measurements ever accomplished in the outer magnetosphere. Combined with a nearby SCOPE Far Daughter satellite, EIDO will form a second pair (in addition to SCOPE Mother-Near Daughter) of closely separated satellites that provides the unique capability to measure the 3D electric field with high accuracy and sensitivity. All EIDO instrumentation are state-of-the-art technology with heritage from many recent missions. The EIDOSCOPE orbit will be close to equatorial with apogee 25-30 RE and perigee 8-10 RE. In the course of one year the orbit will cross all the major plasma boundaries in the outer magnetosphere; bow shock, magnetopause and magnetotail current sheets, jet fronts and turbulent boundary layers. EIDO offers excellent cost/benefits for ESA, as for only a fraction of an M-class mission cost ESA can become an integral part of a major multi-agency L-class level mission that addresses outstanding science questions for the benefit of the European science community.
  •  
26.
  • Vernisse, Y., et al. (författare)
  • Signatures of complex magnetic topologies from multiple reconnection sites induced by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 121:10, s. 9926-9939
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission has demonstrated the frequent presence of reconnection exhausts at thin current sheets within Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) waves at the flank magnetopause. Motivated by these recent observations, we performed a statistical analysis of the boundary layers on the magnetosheath side of all KH current sheets on 8 September 2015. We show 86% consistency between the exhaust flows and particle leakage in the magnetosheath boundary layers but further highlight the very frequent presence of additional boundary layer signatures that do not come from the locally observed reconnection exhausts. These additional electron and ion boundary layers, of various durations and at various positions with respect to the leading and trailing boundaries of the KH waves, signal connections to reconnection sites at other locations. Based on the directionality and extent of these layers, we provide an interpretation whereby complex magnetic topologies can arise within KH waves from the combination of reconnection in the equatorial plane and at midlatitudes in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, where additional reconnection sites are expected to be triggered by the three-dimensional field lines interweaving induced by the KH waves at the flanks (owing to differential flow and magnetic field shear with latitude). The present event demonstrates that the three-dimensional development of KH waves can induce plasma entry (through reconnection at both midlatitude and equatorial regions) already sunward of the terminator where the instability remains in its linear stage.
  •  
27.
  • Bavassano Cattaneo, M. Bice, et al. (författare)
  • Kinetic signatures during a quasi-continuous lobe reconnection event : Cluster Ion Spectrometer (CIS) observations
  • 2006
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 111:A9, s. A09212-
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • On 3 December 2001 the Cluster spacecraft observed a long-lasting lobe reconnection event in the southern high-latitude dusk magnetopause (MP) tailward of the cusp, during a 4 hour interval of mainly northward interplanetary magnetic field ( IMF) and of sub-Alfvenic magnetosheath flow. Almost all the MP encounters have accelerated flows ( for which the Walen test has been successfully verified by Retino et al. ( 2005)) as well as a large number of secondary populations related to reconnection, that is, ions of magnetosheath or magnetospheric origin which cross the MP either way. The detailed analysis of the distribution functions shows that the reconnection site frequently moves relative to the spacecraft, but simultaneous measurements by two spacecraft on opposite sides of the reconnection site indicate that the spacecraft's distance from the X line is small, i.e., below 3200 km. The vicinity to the X line throughout the event is probably the reason why the distribution functions characteristics agree with theoretical expectations on both sides of the reconnection site throughout this long event. Moreover, the detailed analysis of the distribution functions shows evidence, during a few time intervals, of dual reconnection, i.e., of reconnection simultaneously going on also in the northern hemisphere.
  •  
28.
  • Brown, P., et al. (författare)
  • Meeting the Magnetic Emc Challenges for the In-Situ Field Measurements on the Juice Mission
  • 2019
  • Ingår i: Proceedings of 2019 ESA Workshop on Aerospace EMC (Aerospace EMC). - : IEEE. - 9789082684780
  • Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The JUICE (JUpiter ICy moon Explorer) mission features instrument designs tailored to meet the specific challenges of the respective measuring environment, including EMC constraints. We describe the magnetic field science requirements for this mission and show how they drive the EMC requirements on the spacecraft and selected in-situ instrument configurations. We describe the results of two mutual interference campaigns and discuss the design mitigations employed in order to realise in-situ magnetic and electric field data in-flight with the accuracy required to meet very challenging mission science goals.
  •  
29.
  • Cozzani, Giulia, et al. (författare)
  • In situ spacecraft observations of a structured electron diffusion region during magnetopause reconnection
  • 2019
  • Ingår i: Physical review. E. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 2470-0045 .- 2470-0053. ; 99:4
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The electron diffusion region (EDR) is the region where magnetic reconnection is initiated and electrons are energized. Because of experimental difficulties, the structure of the EDR is still poorly understood. A key question is whether the EDR has a homogeneous or patchy structure. Here we report Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft observations providing evidence of inhomogeneous current densities and energy conversion over a few electron inertial lengths within an EDR at the terrestrial magnetopause, suggesting that the EDR can be rather structured. These inhomogenenities are revealed through multipoint measurements because the spacecraft separation is comparable to a few electron inertial lengths, allowing the entire MMS tetrahedron to be within the EDR most of the time. These observations are consistent with recent high-resolution and low-noise kinetic simulations.
  •  
30.
  • Fu, H. S., et al. (författare)
  • Dipolarization fronts as a consequence of transient reconnection : in situ evidence
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 40:23, s. 6023-6027
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Dipolarization fronts (DFs) are frequently detected in the Earth's magnetotail from X-GSM=-30 R-E to X-GSM=-7 R-E. How these DFs are formed is still poorly understood. Three possible mechanisms have been suggested in previous simulations: (1) jet braking, (2) transient reconnection, and (3) spontaneous formation. Among these three mechanisms, the first has been verified by using spacecraft observation, while the second and third have not. In this study, we show Cluster observation of DFs inside reconnection diffusion region. This observation provides in situ evidence of the second mechanism: Transient reconnection can produce DFs. We suggest that the DFs detected in the near-Earth region (X-GSM>-10 R-E) are primarily attributed to jet braking, while the DFs detected in the mid- or far-tail region (X-GSM<-15 R-E) are primarily attributed to transient reconnection or spontaneous formation. In the jet-braking mechanism, the high-speed flow pushes the preexisting plasmas to produce the DF so that there is causality between high-speed flow and DF. In the transient-reconnection mechanism, there is no causality between high-speed flow and DF, because the frozen-in condition is violated.
  •  
31.
  • Graham, Daniel B., et al. (författare)
  • Non-Maxwellianity of Electron Distributions Near Earth's Magnetopause
  • 2021
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 126:10
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Plasmas in Earth's outer magnetosphere, magnetosheath, and solar wind are essentially collisionless. This means particle distributions are not typically in thermodynamic equilibrium and deviate significantly from Maxwellian distributions. The deviations of these distributions can be further enhanced by plasma processes, such as shocks, turbulence, and magnetic reconnection. Such distributions can be unstable to a wide variety of kinetic plasma instabilities, which in turn modify the electron distributions. In this paper, the deviation of the observed electron distributions from a bi-Maxwellian distribution function is calculated and quantified using data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft. A statistical study from tens of millions of electron distributions shows that the primary source of the observed non-Maxwellianity is electron distributions consisting of distinct hot and cold components in Earth's low-density magnetosphere. This results in large non-Maxwellianities at low densities. However, after performing a statistical study we find regions where large non-Maxwellianities are observed for a given density. Highly non-Maxwellian distributions are routinely found at Earth's bowshock, in Earth's outer magnetosphere and in the electron diffusion regions of magnetic reconnection. Enhanced non-Maxwellianities are observed in the turbulent magnetosheath, but are intermittent and are typically not correlated with local processes. The causes of enhanced non-Maxwellianities are investigated.
  •  
32.
  • Hadid, L. Z., et al. (författare)
  • Solar Orbiter's first Venus flyby : Observations from the Radio and Plasma Wave instrument
  • 2021
  • Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 656
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Context. On December 27, 2020, Solar Orbiter completed its first gravity assist manoeuvre of Venus (VGAM1). While this flyby was performed to provide the spacecraft with sufficient velocity to get closer to the Sun and observe its poles from progressively higher inclinations, the Radio and Plasma Wave (RPW) consortium, along with other operational in situ instruments, had the opportunity to perform high cadence measurements and study the plasma properties in the induced magnetosphere of Venus.Aims. In this paper, we review the main observations of the RPW instrument during VGAM1. They include the identification of a number of magnetospheric plasma wave modes, measurements of the electron number densities computed using the quasi-thermal noise spectroscopy technique and inferred from the probe-to-spacecraft potential, the observation of dust impact signatures, kinetic solitary structures, and localized structures at the bow shock, in addition to the validation of the wave normal analysis on-board from the Low Frequency Receiver.Methods. We used the data products provided by the different subsystems of RPW to study Venus' induced magnetosphere.Results. The results include the observations of various electromagnetic and electrostatic wave modes in the induced magnetosphere of Venus: strong emissions of similar to 100 Hz whistler waves are observed in addition to electrostatic ion acoustic waves, solitary structures and Langmuir waves in the magnetosheath of Venus. Moreover, based on the different levels of the wave amplitudes and the large-scale variations of the electron number densities, we could identify different regions and boundary layers at Venus.Conclusions. The RPW instrument provided unprecedented AC magnetic and electric field measurements in Venus' induced magnetosphere for continuous frequency ranges and with high time resolution. These data allow for the conclusive identification of various plasma waves at higher frequencies than previously observed and a detailed investigation regarding the structure of the induced magnetosphere of Venus. Furthermore, noting that prior studies were mainly focused on the magnetosheath region and could only reach 10-12 Venus radii (R-V) down the tail, the particular orbit geometry of Solar Orbiter's VGAM1, allowed the first investigation of the nature of the plasma waves continuously from the bow shock to the magnetosheath, extending to similar to 70R(V) in the far distant tail region.
  •  
33.
  • Hasegawa, H., et al. (författare)
  • Retreat and reformation of X-line during quasi-continuous tailward-of-the-cusp reconnection under northward IMF
  • 2008
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 35:15, s. L15104-
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We present observations on 19-20 November 2006 by the Cluster spacecraft that were skimming the high-latitude dusk-flank magnetopause, which are consistent with more than one reconnection X-line present on the tailward side of the cusp under northward IMF. Evidence of quasi-continuous reconnection over 16 hours exists in the form of Alfvenic acceleration of magnetosheath ions found almost always when either of the satellites traversed the boundary. The data indicate that a dominant X-line was sunward of Cluster for most of the time, but ion velocity distributions consisting of two magnetosheath populations demonstrate that for part of the time, more than one X-line existed. Further, the motion of reconnected field lines shows that some X-line(s) retreated tailward. It is inferred that following the X-line retreat, another X-line reformed sunward of Cluster, leading tomultiple X-lines.
  •  
34.
  • Nakamura, R., et al. (författare)
  • Evolution of dipolarization in the near-Earth current sheet induced by Earthward rapid flux transport
  • 2009
  • Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 27:4, s. 1743-1754
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We report on the evolution of dipolarization and associated disturbances of the near-Earth current sheet during a substorm on 27 October 2007, based upon Cluster multi-point, multi-scale observations of the night-side plasma sheet at X similar to - 10R(E). Three dipolarization events were observed accompanied by activations on ground magnetograms at 09: 07, 09: 14, and 09: 22 UT. We found that all these events consist of two types of dipolarization signatures: (1) Earthward moving dipolarization pulse, which is accompanied by enhanced rapid Earthward flux transport and is followed by current sheet disturbances with decrease in B-Z and enhanced local current density, and subsequent (2) increase in B-Z toward a stable level, which is more prominent at Earthward side and evolving tailward. During the 09: 07 event, when Cluster was located in a thin current sheet, the dipolarization and fast Earthward flows were also accompanied by further thinning of the current sheet down to a half-thickness of about 1000 km and oscillation in a kink-like mode with a period of similar to 15 s and propagating duskward. Probable cause of this "flapping current sheet" is shown to be the Earthward high-speed flow. The oscillation ceased as the flow decreased and the field configuration became more dipolar. The later rapid flux transport events at 09: 14 and 09: 22 UT took place when the field configuration was initially more dipolar and were also associated with B-Z disturbance and local current density enhancement, but to a lesser degree. Hence, current sheet disturbances induced by initial dipolarization pulses could differ, depending on the configuration of the current sheet.
  •  
35.
  • Retino, A., et al. (författare)
  • Cluster observations of energetic electrons and electromagnetic fields within a reconnecting thin current sheet in the Earth's magnetotail
  • 2008
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 113:A12
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We study the acceleration of energetic electrons during magnetotail reconnection by using Cluster simultaneous measurements of three-dimensional electron distribution functions, electric and magnetic fields, and waves in a thin current sheet. We present observations of two consecutive current sheet crossings where the flux of electrons 35 127 keV peaks within an interval of tailward flows. The first crossing shows the signatures of a tailward moving flux rope. The observed magnetic field and density indicate that the flux rope was very dynamic, and a comparison with numerical simulation suggests a crossing right after coalescence of smaller flux ropes. The second crossing occurs within the ion diffusion region. The flux of electrons is largest within the flux rope where they are mainly directed perpendicular to the magnetic field. At the magnetic separatrices, the fluxes are smaller, but the energy spectra are harder and electrons are mainly field aligned. Reconnection electric fields E-Y similar to 7 mV/m are observed within the diffusion region, whereas in the flux rope, EY are much smaller. Waves around lower hybrid frequency do not show a clear correlation with energetic electrons. We interpret the field-aligned electrons at the separatrices as directly accelerated by the reconnection electric field in the diffusion region, whereas we interpret the perpendicular electrons as trapped within the flux rope and accelerated by a combination of betatron acceleration with nonadiabatic pitch-angle scattering. Our observations indicate that thin current sheets during dynamic reconnection are important for in situ production of energetic electrons and that simultaneous measurements of electrons and electromagnetic fields within thin sheets are crucial to understand the acceleration mechanisms.
  •  
36.
  • Vaivads, Andris, et al. (författare)
  • Cluster Observations of Energetic Electron Acceleration Within Earthward Reconnection Jet and Associated Magnetic Flux Rope
  • 2021
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 126:8
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We study acceleration of energetic electrons in an earthward plasma jet due to magnetic reconnection in the Earth magnetotail for one case observed by Cluster. The case has been selected based on the presence of high fluxes of energetic electrons, Cluster being in the burst mode and Cluster separation being around 1,000 km that is optimal for studies of ion scale physics. We show that two characteristic acceleration mechanisms are operating during this event. First, significant acceleration is achieved inside the magnetic flux pile-up of the jet, the acceleration mechanism being consistent with betatron acceleration. Second, strong energetic electron acceleration occurs in magnetic flux rope like structure forming in front of the magnetic flux pile-up region. Energetic electrons inside the magnetic flux rope are accelerated predominantly in the field-aligned direction and the acceleration can be due to Fermi acceleration in a contracting flux rope.
  •  
37.
  • Vaivads, Andris, et al. (författare)
  • Turbulence Heating ObserveR - satellite mission proposal
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: JOURNAL OF PLASMA PHYSICS. - 0022-3778. ; 82
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The Universe is permeated by hot, turbulent, magnetized plasmas. Turbulent plasma is a major constituent of active galactic nuclei, supernova remnants, the intergalactic and interstellar medium, the solar corona, the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere, just to mention a few examples. Energy dissipation of turbulent fluctuations plays a key role in plasma heating and energization, yet we still do not understand the underlying physical mechanisms involved. THOR is a mission designed to answer the questions of how turbulent plasma is heated and particles accelerated, how the dissipated energy is partitioned and how dissipation operates in different regimes of turbulence. THOR is a single-spacecraft mission with an orbit tuned to maximize data return from regions in near-Earth space - magnetosheath, shock, foreshock and pristine solar wind - featuring different kinds of turbulence. Here we summarize the THOR proposal submitted on 15 January 2015 to the 'Call for a Medium-size mission opportunity in ESAs Science Programme for a launch in 2025 (M4)'. THOR has been selected by European Space Agency (ESA) for the study phase.
  •  
38.
  • Aunai, N., et al. (författare)
  • The proton pressure tensor as a new proxy of the proton decoupling region in collisionless magnetic reconnection
  • 2011
  • Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 29:9, s. 1571-1579
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Cluster data is analyzed to test the proton pressure tensor variations as a proxy of the proton decoupling region in collisionless magnetic reconnection. The Hall electric potential well created in the proton decoupling region results in bounce trajectories of the protons which appears as a characteristic variation of one of the in-plane off-diagonal components of the proton pressure tensor in this region. The event studied in this paper is found to be consistent with classical Hall field signatures with a possible 20% guide field. Moreover, correlations between this pressure tensor component, magnetic field and bulk flow are proposed and validated, together with the expected counterstreaming proton distribution functions.
  •  
39.
  • Catapano, Filomena, et al. (författare)
  • In Situ Evidence of Ion Acceleration between Consecutive Reconnection Jet Fronts
  • 2021
  • Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 908:1
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Processes driven by unsteady reconnection can efficiently accelerate particles in many astrophysical plasmas. An example is the reconnection jet fronts in an outflow region. We present evidence of suprathermal ion acceleration between two consecutive reconnection jet fronts observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in the terrestrial magnetotail. An earthward propagating jet is approached by a second faster jet. Between the jets, the thermal ions are mostly perpendicular to magnetic field, are trapped, and are gradually accelerated in the parallel direction up to 150 keV. Observations suggest that ions are predominantly accelerated by a Fermi-like mechanism in the contracting magnetic bottle formed between the two jet fronts. The ion acceleration mechanism is presumably efficient in other environments where jet fronts produced by variable rates of reconnection are common and where the interaction of multiple jet fronts can also develop a turbulent environment, e.g., in stellar and solar eruptions.
  •  
40.
  • Eastwood, J.P., et al. (författare)
  • Multi-point observations of the Hall electromagnetic field and secondary island formation during magnetic reconnection
  • 2007
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 112:A6, s. A06235-
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • A key feature of collisionless magnetic reconnection is the formation of Hall magnetic and electric field structure in the vicinity of the diffusion region. Here we present multi‐point Cluster observations of a reconnection event in the near‐Earth magnetotail where the diffusion region was nested by the Cluster spacecraft; we compare observations made simultaneously by different spacecraft on opposite sides of the magnetotail current sheet. This allows the spatial structure of both the electric and magnetic field to be probed. It is found that, close to the diffusion region, the magnetic field displays a symmetric quadrupole structure. The Hall electric field is symmetric, observed to be inwardly directed on both sides of the current sheet. It is large (∼40 mV m−1) on the earthward side of the diffusion region, but substantially weaker on the tailward side, suggesting a reduced reconnection rate reflected by a similar reduction in Ey. A small‐scale magnetic flux rope was observed in conjunction with these observations. This flux rope, observed very close to the reconnection site and entrained in the plasma flow, may correspond to what have been termed secondary islands in computer simulations. The core magnetic field inside the flux rope is enhanced by a factor of 3, even though the lobe guide field is negligible. Observations of the electric field inside the magnetic island show extremely strong (∼100 mV m−1) fields which may play a significant role in the particle dynamics during reconnection.
  •  
41.
  • Fu, H. S., et al. (författare)
  • Energetic electron acceleration by unsteady magnetic reconnection
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: Nature Physics. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1745-2473 .- 1745-2481. ; 9:7, s. 426-430
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The mechanism that produces energetic electrons during magnetic reconnection is poorly understood. This is a fundamental process responsible for stellar flares(1,2),substorms(34), and disruptions in fusion experiments(5,6).Observations in the solar chromosphere(1) and the Earth's magnetosphere(7-10) indicate significant electron acceleration during reconnection, whereas in the solar wind, energetic electrons are absent(11). Here we show that energetic electron acceleration is caused by unsteady reconnection. In the Earth's magnetosphere and the solar chromosphere, reconnection is unsteady, so energetic electrons are produced; in the solar wind, reconnection is steady(12), so energetic electrons are absent(11). The acceleration mechanism is quasi-adiabatic: betatron and Fermi acceleration in outflow jets are two processes contributing to electron energization during unsteady reconnection. The localized betatron acceleration in the outflow is responsible for at least half of the energy gain for the peak observed fluxes.
  •  
42.
  • Fu, H. S., et al. (författare)
  • How to find magnetic nulls and reconstruct field topology with MMS data?
  • 2015
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2000 Florida Ave NW Washington, DC 20009, USA : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 120:5, s. 3758-3782
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • In this study, we apply a new method-the first-order Taylor expansion (FOTE)-to find magnetic nulls and reconstruct magnetic field topology, in order to use it with the data from the forthcoming MMS mission. We compare this method with the previously used Poincare index (PI), and find that they are generally consistent, except that the PI method can only find a null inside the spacecraft (SC) tetrahedron, while the FOTE method can find a null both inside and outside the tetrahedron and also deduce its drift velocity. In addition, the FOTE method can (1) avoid limitations of the PI method such as data resolution, instrument uncertainty (Bz offset), and SC separation; (2) identify 3-D null types (A, B, As, and Bs) and determine whether these types can degenerate into 2-D (X and O); (3) reconstruct the magnetic field topology. We quantitatively test the accuracy of FOTE in positioning magnetic nulls and reconstructing field topology by using the data from 3-D kinetic simulations. The influences of SC separation (0.05 similar to 1 d(i)) and null-SC distance (0 similar to 1 d(i)) on the accuracy are both considered. We find that (1) for an isolated null, the method is accurate when the SC separation is smaller than 1 d(i), and the null-SC distance is smaller than 0.25 similar to 0.5 d(i); (2) for a null pair, the accuracy is same as in the isolated-null situation, except at the separator line, where the field is nonlinear. We define a parameter xi vertical bar(lambda(1) +lambda(2) +lambda(3))vertical bar/vertical bar lambda vertical bar(max) in terms of the eigenvalues (lambda(i)) of the null to quantify the quality of our method-the smaller this parameter the better the results. Comparing to the previously used parameter (eta vertical bar del center dot B vertical bar/vertical bar del x B vertical bar), xi is more relevant for null identification. Using the new method, we reconstruct the magnetic field topology around a radial-type null and a spiral-type null, and find that the topologies are well consistent with those predicted in theory. We therefore suggest using this method to find magnetic nulls and reconstruct field topology with four-point measurements, particularly from Cluster and the forthcoming MMS mission. For the MMS mission, this null-finding algorithm can be used to trigger its burst-mode measurements.
  •  
43.
  • Fu, H. S., et al. (författare)
  • Intermittent energy dissipation by turbulent reconnection
  • 2017
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 44:1, s. 37-43
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Magnetic reconnectionthe process responsible for many explosive phenomena in both nature and laboratoryis efficient at dissipating magnetic energy into particle energy. To date, exactly how this dissipation happens remains unclear, owing to the scarcity of multipoint measurements of the diffusion region at the sub-ion scale. Here we report such a measurement by Clusterfour spacecraft with separation of 1/5 ion scale. We discover numerous current filaments and magnetic nulls inside the diffusion region of magnetic reconnection, with the strongest currents appearing at spiral nulls (O-lines) and the separatrices. Inside each current filament, kinetic-scale turbulence is significantly increased and the energy dissipation, Ej, is 100 times larger than the typical value. At the jet reversal point, where radial nulls (X-lines) are detected, the current, turbulence, and energy dissipations are surprisingly small. All these features clearly demonstrate that energy dissipation in magnetic reconnection occurs at O-lines but not X-lines.
  •  
44.
  • Hasegawa, H., et al. (författare)
  • Kelvin-Helmholtz waves at the Earth's magnetopause : Multiscale development and associated reconnection
  • 2009
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 114:12, s. A12207-
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We examine traversals on 20 November 2001 of the equatorial magnetopause boundary layer simultaneously at similar to 1500 magnetic local time (MLT) by the Geotail spacecraft and at similar to 1900 MLT by the Cluster spacecraft, which detected rolled-up MHD-scale vortices generated by the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) under prolonged northward interplanetary magnetic field conditions. Our purpose is to address the excitation process of the KHI, MHD-scale and ion-scale structures of the vortices, and the formation mechanism of the low-latitude boundary layer (LLBL). The observed KH wavelength (>4 x 10(4) km) is considerably longer than predicted by the linear theory from the thickness (similar to 1000 km) of the dayside velocity shear layer. Our analyses suggest that the KHI excitation is facilitated by combined effects of the formation of the LLBL presumably through high-latitude magnetopause reconnection and compressional magnetosheath fluctuations on the dayside, and that breakup and/or coalescence of the vortices are beginning around 1900 MLT. Current layers of thickness a few times ion inertia length similar to 100 km and of magnetic shear similar to 60 degrees existed at the trailing edges of the vortices. Identified in one such current sheet were signatures of local reconnection: Alfvenic outflow jet within a bifurcated current sheet, nonzero magnetic field component normal to the sheet, and field-aligned beam of accelerated electrons. Because of its incipient nature, however, this reconnection process is unlikely to lead to the observed dusk-flank LLBL. It is thus inferred that the flank LLBL resulted from other mechanisms, namely, diffusion and/or remote reconnection unidentified by Cluster.
  •  
45.
  • Huang, S. Y., et al. (författare)
  • Electron acceleration in the reconnection diffusion region : Cluster observations
  • 2012
  • Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 39:L11103
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We present one case study of magnetic islands and energetic electrons in the reconnection diffusion region observed by the Cluster spacecraft. The cores of the islands are characterized by strong core magnetic fields and density depletion. Intense currents, with the dominant component parallel to the ambient magnetic field, are detected inside the magnetic islands. A thin current sheet is observed in the close vicinity of one magnetic island. Energetic electron fluxes increase at the location of the thin current sheet, and further increase inside the magnetic island, with the highest fluxes located at the core region of the island. We suggest that these energetic electrons are firstly accelerated in the thin current sheet, and then trapped and further accelerated in the magnetic island by betatron and Fermi acceleration.
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46.
  • Huang, S. Y., et al. (författare)
  • In situ observations of flux rope at the separatrix region of magnetic reconnection
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 121:1, s. 205-213
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We present the first in situ observations of a small-scale flux rope locally formed at the separatrix region of magnetic reconnection without large guide field. Bidirectional electron beams (cold and hot beams) and density cavity accompanied by intense wave activity substantiate the crossing of the separatrix region. Density compression and one parallel electron beam are detected inside the flux rope. We suggest that this flux rope is locally generated at the separatrix region due to the tearing instability within the separatrix current layer. This observation sheds new light on the 3-D picture of magnetic reconnection in space plasma.
  •  
47.
  • Huang, S. Y., et al. (författare)
  • Observations of Whistler Waves in the Magnetic Reconnection Diffusion Region
  • 2018
  • Ingår i: 2ND URSI ATLANTIC RADIO SCIENCE MEETING (AT-RASC). - : IEEE. - 9789082598735
  • Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Whistler waves are believed to play an important role during magnetic reconnection. In this paper, we report the simultaneous occurrence of two types of the whistler waves in the magnetotail reconnection diffusion region. The first type is observed in the pileup region of downstream and propagates away along the field lines to downstream, and is possibly generated by the electron temperature anisotropy at the magnetic equator. The second type is found around the separatrix region and propagates towards the X-line, and is possibly aenerated by the electron beam-driven whistler instability or Cerenkov emission from electron phase-space holes. Our observations of two different types of whistler waves are well consistent with recent kinetic simulations, and suggest that the observed whistler waves are the consequences of magnetic reconnection.Moreover, we statistically investigate the whistler waves in the magnetotail reconnection region, and construct the global distribution and occurrence rate of the whistler waves based on the two-dimensional reconnection model. It is found that the occurrence rate of the whistler waves is large in the separatrix region (113,1B0j>0.4) and pileup region ([B,./Bol<0.2, 161>45'), but very small in the X-line region. The statistical results are well consistent with the case study.
  •  
48.
  • Huang, S. Y., et al. (författare)
  • Two types of whistler waves in the hall reconnection region
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 121:7, s. 6639-6646
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Whistler waves are believed to play an important role during magnetic reconnection. Here we report the near-simultaneous occurrence of two types of the whistler-mode waves in the magnetotail Hall reconnection region. The first type is observed in the magnetic pileup region of downstream and propagates away to downstream along the field lines and is possibly generated by the electron temperature anisotropy at the magnetic equator. The second type, propagating toward the X line, is found around the separatrix region and probably is generated by the electron beam-driven whistler instability or erenkov emission from electron phase-space holes. These observations of two different types of whistler waves are consistent with recent kinetic simulations and suggest that the observed whistler waves are a consequence of magnetic reconnection.
  •  
49.
  • Johlander, Andreas, et al. (författare)
  • Ion Injection At Quasi-Parallel Shocks Seen By The Cluster Spacecraft
  • 2016
  • Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 817:1
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Collisionless shocks in space plasma are known to be capable of accelerating ions to very high energies through diffusive shock acceleration (DSA). This process requires an injection of suprathermal ions, but the mechanisms producing such a suprathermal ion seed population are still not fully understood. We study acceleration of solar wind ions resulting from reflection off short large-amplitude magnetic structures (SLAMSs) in the quasi-parallel bow shock of Earth using in situ data from the four Cluster spacecraft. Nearly specularly reflected solar wind ions are observed just upstream of a SLAMS. The reflected ions are undergoing shock drift acceleration (SDA) and obtain energies higher than the solar wind energy upstream of the SLAMS. Our test particle simulations show that solar wind ions with lower energy are more likely to be reflected off the SLAMS, while high-energy ions pass through the SLAMS, which is consistent with the observations. The process of SDA at SLAMSs can provide an effective way of accelerating solar wind ions to suprathermal energies. Therefore, this could be a mechanism of ion injection into DSA in astrophysical plasmas.
  •  
50.
  • Khotyaintsev, Yuri V., et al. (författare)
  • Observations of Slow Electron Holes at a Magnetic Reconnection Site
  • 2010
  • Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - : American Physical Society. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 105:16
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • We report in situ observations of high-frequency electrostatic waves in the vicinity of a reconnection site in the Earth's magnetotail. Two different types of waves are observed inside an ion-scale magnetic flux rope embedded in a reconnecting current sheet. Electron holes (weak double layers) produced by the Buneman instability are observed in the density minimum in the center of the flux rope. Higher frequency broadband electrostatic waves with frequencies extending up to f(pe) are driven by the electron beam and are observed in the denser part of the rope. Our observations demonstrate multiscale coupling during the reconnection: Electron-scale physics is induced by the dynamics of an ion-scale flux rope embedded in a yet larger-scale magnetic reconnection process.
  •  
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