Generation of a strong parallel electric field and embedded electron jet in the exhaust of moderate guide field reconnection
POSTER
Abstract
MMS observed an extended current layer concurrent with a strong parallel electric field. The current
layer is embedded in the reconnection exhaust and is consistent with an extended magnetized jet
expected in roughly symmetric moderate guide field reconnection. The strong parallel electric field
observed at the jet balances a strong gradient in the parallel electron pressure caused by a transition
between magnetized electrons with Te|| > Te⊥ on one side of the jet and demagnetized,
roughly isotropic electrons across the thin current layer. Simulation results show how this transition can
occur and how the associated electron pressure gradients in Ohm's law balance the parallel electric
field.
layer is embedded in the reconnection exhaust and is consistent with an extended magnetized jet
expected in roughly symmetric moderate guide field reconnection. The strong parallel electric field
observed at the jet balances a strong gradient in the parallel electron pressure caused by a transition
between magnetized electrons with Te|| > Te⊥ on one side of the jet and demagnetized,
roughly isotropic electrons across the thin current layer. Simulation results show how this transition can
occur and how the associated electron pressure gradients in Ohm's law balance the parallel electric
field.
*The authors acknowledge support by the Department of Energy's Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF) under Grant No.~DE-FG02-97ER25308, LANL LDRD project 20200334ER, and the DOE Office of Science Fusion Energy Sciences. Simulations used LANL Institutional Computing resources.
Publication: Generation of a strong parallel electric field and embedded electron jet in the exhaust of moderate guide field reconnection -- Submitted to GRL
Presenters
-
Blake A Wetherton
- Los Alamos National Laboratory