Collisionless Asymmetric Magnetic Reconnection in 3D MHD-EPIC Global Simulations
Abstract
Kinetic simulations that are embedded in global MHD simulations (MHD-EPIC) enable the study of collisionless magnetic reconnection in realistic configurations. The MHD simulation solves the global interaction of solar wind with the planet magnetosphere over the whole domain while the kinetic simulations are performed only in the selected regions where kinetic physics plays a critical role. The coupling between MHD and kinetic simulations is two-way as the MHD simulation provides boundary conditions to the kinetic simulations while the results of the kinetic simulations overwrite the results of the MHD simulations. One of the main applications of this simulation technique is the study of magnetic reconnection with local kinetic simulations only in the magnetopause and the magnetotail regions. We carry out 3D local iPIC3D Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulations in global BATS-R-US Hall MHD simulations using the SWMF coupling framework to study the kinetic features of driven asymmetric magnetic reconnection. Because the PIC simulations are initialized and coupled with Hall MHD simulations, the PIC simulations of asymmetric reconnection are carried out in a realistic initial configuration of the electric and magnetic fields and with a realistic driver from the boundaries. The 3D PIC simulations resolve the electron inertial length of the system to accurately describe the physics in the electron diffusion region during asymmetric reconnection. The 3D PIC simulations show the development of flux ropes as results of magnetic reconnection and the presence of instabilities and strong wave activities in proximity of the current sheet. In particular, electron outflow jets are unstable against Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and lower-hybrid drift waves are present in proximity of the current sheet. The PIC simulations also allow us to study the electron distribution functions in the electron diffusion region and to identify crescent-shaped electron distribution functions as recently observed by the MMS spacecrafts. The results of the embedded 3D PIC simulations provide a realistic picture of collisionless asymmetric magnetic reconnection that can be used for further understanding the observations from MMS.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AGUFMSM21A2413M
- Keywords:
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- 2723 Magnetic reconnection;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2724 Magnetopause and boundary layers;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2728 Magnetosheath;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2784 Solar wind/magnetosphere interactions;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS