Statistical properties of magnetic structures and energy dissipation during turbulent reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail

Bergstedt, K.; Ji, H.; Jara-Almonte, J.; Yoo, J.; Ergun, R. E.; Chen, L.-J.
Issue date: 14 September 2020
Cite as:
Bergstedt, K., Ji, H., Jara-Almonte, J., Yoo, J., Ergun, R. E., & Chen, L.-J. (2020). Statistical properties of magnetic structures and energy dissipation during turbulent reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail [Data set]. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University.
@electronic{bergstedt_k_2020,
  author      = {Bergstedt, K. and
                Ji, H. and
                Jara-Almonte, J. and
                Yoo, J. and
                Ergun, R. E. and
                Chen, L.-J.},
  title       = {{Statistical properties of magnetic struc
                tures and energy dissipation during turb
                ulent reconnection in the Earth's magnet
                otail}},
  publisher   = {{Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Pri
                nceton University}},
  year        = 2020
}
Abstract:

We present the first statistical study of magnetic structures and associated energy dissipation observed during a single period of turbulent magnetic reconnection, by using the in situ measurements of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in the Earth's magnetotail on 26 July 2017. The structures are selected by identifying a bipolar signature in the magnetic field and categorized as plasmoids or current sheets via an automated algorithm which examines current density and plasma flow. The size of the plasmoids forms a decaying exponential distribution ranging from subelectron up to ion scales. The presence of substantial number of current sheets is consistent with a physical picture of dynamic production and merging of plasmoids during turbulent reconnection. The magnetic structures are locations of significant energy dissipation via electric field parallel to the local magnetic field, while dissipation via perpendicular electric field dominates outside of the structures. Significant energy also returns from particles to fields.

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