Investigation of average electron properties during reconnection events in the Earth's magnetotail
Abstract
Magnetic reconnection is an energy conversion process that is important in astrophysical phenomena both on the Sun and in the magnetosphere of planets. The process converts stored magnetic energy to particle energy and is believed to cause solar flares, aurora and plasma convection. The average properties and behavior of electrons during reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail are investigated, using observations of reconnection events made by the Cluster satellites. 22 ions diffusion regions have been identified in the data collected by the satellites between July 2001 and November 2006. The electron data analysis includes identification of beams in connection with the Hall current system, statistical analysis of inflow and outflow area anisotropy and connection between electron properties and ion and magnetic field data. Multi-spacecraft analysis is also employed to investigate average scale size of local structures.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AGUFMSM51C1851B
- Keywords:
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- 2723 MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS / Magnetic reconnection;
- 2744 MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS / Magnetotail