https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023051">
 

Signatures of complex magnetic topologies from multiple reconnection sites induced by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability

Authors

Y. Vernisse, Université Paul Sabatier
B. Lavraud, Université Paul Sabatier
S. Eriksson, University of Colorado
Daniel J. Gershman, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
J. Dorelli, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
C. J. Pollock, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
B. L. Giles, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
N. Aunai, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas
L. Avanov, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
J. L. Burch, Southwest Research Institute
M. Chandler, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
V. N. Coffey, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
J. Dargent, University of Pisa
Robert E. Ergun, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Charlie J. Farrugia, University of New HampshireFollow
V. Genot, Université Paul Sabatier
D. B. Graham, Swedish Institute of Space Physics
H. Hasegawa, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
C. Jacquey, Université Paul Sabatier
I. Kacem, Université Paul Sabatier
Yu. V. Khotyaintsev, Swedish Institute of Space Physics
W. Li, Swedish institute of Space Physics
W. Magnes, Austrian Academy of Sciences
A. Marchaudon, Université Paul Sabatier
T. Moore, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
W. Paterson, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
E. Penou, Université Paul Sabatier
T. D. Phan, Space Sciences Laboratory
A. Retino, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas
C. T. Russell, University of California, Los Angeles
Y. Saito, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
J. A. Sauvaud, Université Paul Sabatier
Roy B. Torbert, University of New HampshireFollow
F. D. Wilder, University of Colorado Boulder
S. Yokota, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

Abstract

The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission has demonstrated the frequent presence of reconnection exhausts at thin current sheets within Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) waves at the flank magnetopause. Motivated by these recent observations, we performed a statistical analysis of the boundary layers on the magnetosheath side of all KH current sheets on 8 September 2015. We show 86% consistency between the exhaust flows and particle leakage in the magnetosheath boundary layers but further highlight the very frequent presence of additional boundary layer signatures that do not come from the locally observed reconnection exhausts. These additional electron and ion boundary layers, of various durations and at various positions with respect to the leading and trailing boundaries of the KH waves, signal connections to reconnection sites at other locations. Based on the directionality and extent of these layers, we provide an interpretation whereby complex magnetic topologies can arise within KH waves from the combination of reconnection in the equatorial plane and at midlatitudes in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, where additional reconnection sites are expected to be triggered by the three-dimensional field lines interweaving induced by the KH waves at the flanks (owing to differential flow and magnetic field shear with latitude). The present event demonstrates that the three-dimensional development of KH waves can induce plasma entry (through reconnection at both midlatitude and equatorial regions) already sunward of the terminator where the instability remains in its linear stage.

Publication Date

10-12-2016

Journal Title

JGR: Space Physics

Publisher

AGU

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023051

Document Type

Article

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