Electron Trapping in Magnetic Mirror Structures at the Edge of Magnetopause Flux RopesShow others and affiliations
2021 (English)In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics, ISSN 2169-9380, E-ISSN 2169-9402, Vol. 126, no 4, article id e2021JA029182Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Flux ropes are a proposed site for particle energization during magnetic reconnection, with several mechanisms proposed. Here, Magnetospheric Multiscale mission observations of magnetic mirror structures on the edge of two ion-scale magnetopause flux ropes are presented. Donut-shaped features in the electron pitch angle distributions provide evidence for electron trapping in the structures. Furthermore, both events show trapping with extended 3D structure along the body of the flux rope. Potential formation mechanisms, such as the magnetic mirror instability, are examined and the evolutionary states of the structures are compared. Pressure and force analysis suggest that such structures could provide an important electron acceleration mechanism for magnetopause flux ropes, and for magnetic reconnection more generally.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Geophysical Union (AGU) , 2021. Vol. 126, no 4, article id e2021JA029182
Keywords [en]
electron trapping, flux rope, magnetic reconnection, magnetopause, MMS
National Category
Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-296435DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029182ISI: 000645003000008Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85104956315OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-296435DiVA, id: diva2:1565953
Note
QC 20220302
2021-06-142021-06-142022-06-25Bibliographically approved