Fast Ion Isotropization by Current Sheet Scattering in Magnetic Reconnection Jets

Richard, LouisDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Space and Plasma Physics, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 20, Sweden; Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala 751 21, Sweden (author)

QC 20231013
We present a statistical analysis of ion distributions in magnetic reconnection jets using data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft. Compared with the quiet plasma in which the jet propagates, we often find anisotropic and non-Maxwellian ion distributions in the plasma jets. We observe magnetic field fluctuations associated with unstable ion distributions, but the wave amplitudes are not large enough to scatter ions during the observed travel time of the jet. We estimate that the phase-space diffusion due to chaotic and quasiadiabatic ion motion in the current sheet is sufficiently fast to be the primary process leading to isotropization.

Khotyaintsev, Yuri V.Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala 751 21, Sweden (author)
Graham, Daniel B.Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala 751 21, Sweden (author)
Vaivads, AndrisKTH,Rymd- och plasmafysik,Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Ventspils 3601, Latvia(Swepub:kth)u167dmzs (author)
Gershman, Daniel J.NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA (author)
Russell, Christopher T.University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA (author)
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Space and Plasma Physics, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 20, Sweden; Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala 751 21, SwedenSwedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala 751 21, Sweden (creator_code:org_t)

In:Physical Review Letters: American Physical Society (APS)131:110031-90071079-7114

By the author/editor: Richard, Louis; Khotyaintsev, Yu ...; Graham, Daniel B ...; Vaivads, Andris; Gershman, Daniel ...; Russell, Christo ...

About the subject

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Physical Science ...; and Fusion Plasma an ...

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Earth and Relate ...; and Geophysics

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