Kinetic Structure of the Electron Diffusion Region in Antiparallel Magnetic Reconnection

Author(s)
Ng, Jonathan; Le, Ari Yitzchak; Daughton, W.; Chen, L.-J.
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Abstract
Strong electron pressure anisotropy has been observed upstream of electron diffusion regions during reconnection in Earth’s magnetotail and kinetic simulations. For collisionless antiparallel reconnection, we find that the anisotropy drives the electron current in the electron diffusion region, and that this current is insensitive to the reconnection electric field. Reconstruction of the electron distribution function within this region at enhanced resolutions reveals its highly structured nature and the mechanism by which the pressure anisotropy sets the structure of the region.
Date issued
2011-02
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/63139
Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
Journal
Physical Review Letters
Publisher
American Physical Society
Citation
Ng, J. et al. "Kinetic Structure of the Electron Diffusion Region in Antiparallel Magnetic Reconnection.” “Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 065002 (2011)© 2011 American Physical Society.
Version: Final published version
ISSN
0031-9007
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