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Magnetotail reconnection onset caused by electron kinetics with a strong external driver

Author

Listed:
  • San Lu

    (University of California)

  • Rongsheng Wang

    (University of Science and Technology of China
    CAS Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology)

  • Quanming Lu

    (University of Science and Technology of China
    CAS Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology)

  • V. Angelopoulos

    (University of California)

  • R. Nakamura

    (Austrian Academy of Sciences)

  • A. V. Artemyev

    (University of California
    Russian Academy of Sciences)

  • P. L. Pritchett

    (University of California)

  • T. Z. Liu

    (University of California)

  • X.-J. Zhang

    (University of California)

  • W. Baumjohann

    (Austrian Academy of Sciences)

  • W. Gonzalez

    (China-Brazil Joint Laboratory for Space Weather, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais)

  • A. C. Rager

    (Catholic University of America)

  • R. B. Torbert

    (University of New Hampshire)

  • B. L. Giles

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • D. J. Gershman

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • C. T. Russell

    (University of California)

  • R. J. Strangeway

    (University of California)

  • Y. Qi

    (University of California)

  • R. E. Ergun

    (University of Colorado)

  • P.-A. Lindqvist

    (Royal Institute of Technology)

  • J. L. Burch

    (Southwest Research Institute)

  • Shui Wang

    (University of Science and Technology of China
    CAS Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology)

Abstract

Magnetotail reconnection plays a crucial role in explosive energy conversion in geospace. Because of the lack of in-situ spacecraft observations, the onset mechanism of magnetotail reconnection, however, has been controversial for decades. The key question is whether magnetotail reconnection is externally driven to occur first on electron scales or spontaneously arising from an unstable configuration on ion scales. Here, we show, using spacecraft observations and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, that magnetotail reconnection starts from electron reconnection in the presence of a strong external driver. Our PIC simulations show that this electron reconnection then develops into ion reconnection. These results provide direct evidence for magnetotail reconnection onset caused by electron kinetics with a strong external driver.

Suggested Citation

  • San Lu & Rongsheng Wang & Quanming Lu & V. Angelopoulos & R. Nakamura & A. V. Artemyev & P. L. Pritchett & T. Z. Liu & X.-J. Zhang & W. Baumjohann & W. Gonzalez & A. C. Rager & R. B. Torbert & B. L. G, 2020. "Magnetotail reconnection onset caused by electron kinetics with a strong external driver," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18787-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18787-w
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