In-situ observations of the magnetothermodynamic evolution of electron-only reconnection
Abstract Field-particle energy exchange is important to the magnetic reconnection process, but uncertainties regarding the time evolution of this exchange remain. We investigate the temporal dynamics of field-particle energy exchange during magnetic reconnection, using Magnetospheric Multiscale miss...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Communications Physics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-01948-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832585666359197696 |
|---|---|
| author | D. S. Payne M. Swisdak J. P. Eastwood J. F. Drake P. S. Pyakurel J. R. Shuster |
| author_facet | D. S. Payne M. Swisdak J. P. Eastwood J. F. Drake P. S. Pyakurel J. R. Shuster |
| author_sort | D. S. Payne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Field-particle energy exchange is important to the magnetic reconnection process, but uncertainties regarding the time evolution of this exchange remain. We investigate the temporal dynamics of field-particle energy exchange during magnetic reconnection, using Magnetospheric Multiscale mission observations of an electron-only reconnection event in the magnetosheath. The electron energy is in local minimum at the x-line due to a density depletion, while the magnetic energy is in local maximum due to a guide field enhancement. The electromagnetic energy transport comes almost entirely from guide field contributions and is confined within the reconnection plane, while the most significant contribution to electron energy transport is independent of the drift velocity with additional out-of-plane signatures. Multi-spacecraft analysis suggests that the guide field energy is decreasing while the electron density is increasing, both evolving such that the system is moving toward a more uniform distribution of magnetic and thermal energy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c3d1bf4b2cac418c984fbe971bea2c80 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2399-3650 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-c3d1bf4b2cac418c984fbe971bea2c802025-01-26T12:37:01ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Physics2399-36502025-01-01811910.1038/s42005-025-01948-yIn-situ observations of the magnetothermodynamic evolution of electron-only reconnectionD. S. Payne0M. Swisdak1J. P. Eastwood2J. F. Drake3P. S. Pyakurel4J. R. Shuster5Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of MarylandInstitute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of MarylandThe Blackett Laboratory, Imperial CollegeInstitute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of MarylandSpace Sciences Laboratory, University of CaliforniaSpace Science Center, University of New HampshireAbstract Field-particle energy exchange is important to the magnetic reconnection process, but uncertainties regarding the time evolution of this exchange remain. We investigate the temporal dynamics of field-particle energy exchange during magnetic reconnection, using Magnetospheric Multiscale mission observations of an electron-only reconnection event in the magnetosheath. The electron energy is in local minimum at the x-line due to a density depletion, while the magnetic energy is in local maximum due to a guide field enhancement. The electromagnetic energy transport comes almost entirely from guide field contributions and is confined within the reconnection plane, while the most significant contribution to electron energy transport is independent of the drift velocity with additional out-of-plane signatures. Multi-spacecraft analysis suggests that the guide field energy is decreasing while the electron density is increasing, both evolving such that the system is moving toward a more uniform distribution of magnetic and thermal energy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-01948-y |
| spellingShingle | D. S. Payne M. Swisdak J. P. Eastwood J. F. Drake P. S. Pyakurel J. R. Shuster In-situ observations of the magnetothermodynamic evolution of electron-only reconnection Communications Physics |
| title | In-situ observations of the magnetothermodynamic evolution of electron-only reconnection |
| title_full | In-situ observations of the magnetothermodynamic evolution of electron-only reconnection |
| title_fullStr | In-situ observations of the magnetothermodynamic evolution of electron-only reconnection |
| title_full_unstemmed | In-situ observations of the magnetothermodynamic evolution of electron-only reconnection |
| title_short | In-situ observations of the magnetothermodynamic evolution of electron-only reconnection |
| title_sort | in situ observations of the magnetothermodynamic evolution of electron only reconnection |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-01948-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dspayne insituobservationsofthemagnetothermodynamicevolutionofelectrononlyreconnection AT mswisdak insituobservationsofthemagnetothermodynamicevolutionofelectrononlyreconnection AT jpeastwood insituobservationsofthemagnetothermodynamicevolutionofelectrononlyreconnection AT jfdrake insituobservationsofthemagnetothermodynamicevolutionofelectrononlyreconnection AT pspyakurel insituobservationsofthemagnetothermodynamicevolutionofelectrononlyreconnection AT jrshuster insituobservationsofthemagnetothermodynamicevolutionofelectrononlyreconnection |