Observations of Magnetic Reconnection in the Transition Region of Quasi‐Parallel Shocks

Observations of Magnetic Reconnection in the Transition Region of Quasi‐Parallel Shocks

Abstract Using observations of Earth's bow shock by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we show for the first time that active magnetic reconnection is occurring at current sheets embedded within the quasi‐parallel shock's transition layer. We observe an electron jet and heating but no...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: I. Gingell, S. J. Schwartz, J. P. Eastwood, J. L Burch, R. E. Ergun, S. Fuselier, D. J. Gershman, B. L. Giles, Y. V. Khotyaintsev, B. Lavraud, P.‐A. Lindqvist, W. R. Paterson, T. D. Phan, C. T. Russell, J. E. Stawarz, R. J. Strangeway, R. B. Torbert, V. Wilder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-02-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
collisionless shocks
magnetic reconnection
bow shock
magnetospheric multiscale
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL081804
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Summary:Abstract Using observations of Earth's bow shock by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we show for the first time that active magnetic reconnection is occurring at current sheets embedded within the quasi‐parallel shock's transition layer. We observe an electron jet and heating but no ion response, suggesting we have observed an electron‐only mode. The lack of ion response is consistent with simulations showing reconnection onset on sub‐ion time scales. We also discuss the impact of electron heating in shocks via reconnection.
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007

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