Title: On Multiple Hall-Like Electron Currents and Tripolar Guide Magnetic Field Perturbations During Kelvin-Helmholtz Waves

Abstract

Abstract Two magnetopause current sheet crossings with tripolar guide magnetic field signatures were observed by multiple Magnetosphere Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft during Kelvin‐Helmholtz wave activity. The two out‐of‐plane magnetic field depressions of the tripolar guide magnetic field are largely supported by the observed in‐plane electron currents, which are reminiscent of two clockwise Hall current loop systems. A comparison with a three‐dimensional kinetic simulation of Kelvin‐Helmholtz waves and vortex‐induced reconnection suggests that MMS likely encountered the two Hall magnetic field depressions on either side of a magnetic reconnection X‐line. Moreover, MMS observed an out‐of‐plane current reversal and a corresponding in‐plane magnetic field rotation at the center of one of the current sheets, suggesting the presence of two adjacent flux ropes. The region inside one of the ion‐scale flux ropes was characterized by an observed decrease of the total magnetic field, a strong axial current, and significant enhancements of electron density and parallel electron temperature. The flux rope boundary was characterized by currents opposite this axial current, strong in‐plane and converging electric fields, parallel electric fields, and weak electron‐frame Joule dissipation. These return current region observations may reflect a need to support the axial current rather than representing local reconnection signatures in themore » absence of any exhausts.« less

Authors:

Sturner, Andrew P.  ^[1];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-6032-526X"

Eriksson, Stefan  ^[1];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-5619-1577"

Nakamura, Takuma  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-4550-2947"

Gershman, Daniel J.  ^[3];

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Plaschke, Ferdinand  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-5104-6282"

Ergun, Robert E.  ^[1];

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Wilder, Frederick D.  ^[1];

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Giles, Barbara  ^[3];

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Pollock, Craig  ^[4];

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Paterson, William R.  ^[3];

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Strangeway, Robert J.  ^[5];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-9839-1828"

Baumjohann, Wolfgang  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-6271-0110"

Burch, James L.  ^[6]

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-0452-8403"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
2. Austrian Academy of Sciences (Austria)
3. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD (United States)
4. Denali Scientific, LLC, Healy, AK (United States)
5. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
6. Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (United States)

Publication Date:

Thu Feb 08 00:00:00 EST 2018

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

OSTI Identifier:

1565634

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1422425

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 123; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 2169-9380

Publisher:

American Geophysical Union

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; magnetic reconnection; currents; magnetopause