The effect of reconnection electric field on crescent and U-shaped distribution functions in asymmetric reconnection with no guide field
Abstract
Electron distribution functions in the electron diffusion region in asymmetric reconnection without a guide field are studied by means of theory and 2-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. The effect of the reconnection electric field on crescent-shaped distribution functions is to broaden the thickness of the crescent. In this paper, we express the thickness of the crescent as a function of field strengths, the distance from the X-line, and the time electrons spend executing meandering orbits. The electron distribution at the reconnection X-line exhibits a U-shaped structure with an opening angle in the direction of the reconnection electric field. We predict the opening angle of the U-shaped distribution by considering acceleration of the meandering electrons by the reconnection electric field. Results from particle tracing in PIC simulations and theoretical analysis agree. The above predictions provide guidance to interpret measurements by spacecraft from electron diffusion regions in asymmetric reconnection.
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States). Dept. of Astronomy; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, MD (United Sates). Heliophysics Science Division
- Univ. of Bergen, Bergen (Norway). Birkeland Centre for Space Science
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1535318
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1368413
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0016278
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Physics of Plasmas
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 24; Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; physics
Citation Formats
Bessho, N., Chen, L. -J., Hesse, M., and Wang, S. The effect of reconnection electric field on crescent and U-shaped distribution functions in asymmetric reconnection with no guide field. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1063/1.4989737.
Bessho, N., Chen, L. -J., Hesse, M., & Wang, S. The effect of reconnection electric field on crescent and U-shaped distribution functions in asymmetric reconnection with no guide field. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4989737
Bessho, N., Chen, L. -J., Hesse, M., and Wang, S. Wed .
"The effect of reconnection electric field on crescent and U-shaped distribution functions in asymmetric reconnection with no guide field". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4989737. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1535318.
@article{osti_1535318,
title = {The effect of reconnection electric field on crescent and U-shaped distribution functions in asymmetric reconnection with no guide field},
author = {Bessho, N. and Chen, L. -J. and Hesse, M. and Wang, S.},
abstractNote = {Electron distribution functions in the electron diffusion region in asymmetric reconnection without a guide field are studied by means of theory and 2-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. The effect of the reconnection electric field on crescent-shaped distribution functions is to broaden the thickness of the crescent. In this paper, we express the thickness of the crescent as a function of field strengths, the distance from the X-line, and the time electrons spend executing meandering orbits. The electron distribution at the reconnection X-line exhibits a U-shaped structure with an opening angle in the direction of the reconnection electric field. We predict the opening angle of the U-shaped distribution by considering acceleration of the meandering electrons by the reconnection electric field. Results from particle tracing in PIC simulations and theoretical analysis agree. The above predictions provide guidance to interpret measurements by spacecraft from electron diffusion regions in asymmetric reconnection.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4989737},
journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
number = 7,
volume = 24,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jul 05 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Wed Jul 05 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
Web of Science
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