SM008-07
Electromagnetic Energy Conversion within Exhaust Regions of Reconnection

Monday, 7 December 2020: 16:24
Virtual
Roy B Torbert1, Dominic Payne2, Charles J Farrugia3, Ivan Dors4, Kevin James Genestreti5, Matthew R Argall6, Anthony J Rogers7,8 and James L Burch5, (1)University of New Hampshire Main Campus, Physics Department, Durham, NH, United States, (2)University of New Hampshire Main Campus, Durham, NH, United States, (3)University of New Hampshire, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, Durham, NH, United States, (4)Univ New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States, (5)Southwest Research Institute San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States, (6)University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States, (7)Anaheim, CA, United States, (8)University of New Hampshire Main Campus, Physics, Durham, NH, United States
Recorded Presentation
Abstract:
Using Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) field and particle data and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, we investigate the exhaust regions around the electron diffusion regions (EDRs) in reconnection events, for both symmetric and asymmetric cases. The measurements on the four-spacecraft MMS mission can determine field (E,B, and J) and pressure gradients that allow an estimate of structure velocities and electron force balance. Reconstructions of the magnetic and electric field around the EDRs and computation of electron trajectories in these regions indicates that negative regions of electromagnetic energy conversion, J*E’, may be due to an ambipolar electric field set up by the charge imbalance due to the rapid acceleration of electrons out of the EDR. Comparisons with PIC simulations allow particle tracing to illuminate this effect.
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