Simulations of instabilities in the symmetric reconnection layer with a moderate guide field

Recent Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations have revealed the importance of the nonlinear evolution of waves in the lower-hybrid frequency range during magnetotail reconnection, in a manner different from what is typically expected of the lower-hybrid drift instability in thin current sheets. We perform 2- and 3-D kinetic simulations of reconnection in the moderate guide field regime in order to study the excitation of these waves and how they affect the reconnection dynamics close to the x-line and in the exhaust. In particular, the role of the waves in demagnetizing electrons and causing agyrotropic electron distribution functions will be explored.