With the measurements of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission at the magnetopause, we investigated the electron distribution and the whistler waves associated with a series of six ion-scale flux transfer events (FTEs). Based on the magnetic field signature, each FTE can be divided into the core region and the draping region. In the draping regions of the most FTEs, the low-energy electrons displayed a bidirectional field-aligned distribution. The medium-energy electrons showed a field-aligned or beam distribution in the leading part, while a pancake distribution was presented for the electrons in the trailing part of the draping region, which has never been reported previously. The close correlation between the pancake distribution and the compression of the localized magnetic field suggests that the pancake distribution may be due to the betatron acceleration. The whistler waves associated with the FTEs were observed and categorized into the lower and upper bands according to the frequency range. The lower band whistler waves propagated in variable directions and therefore could be generated locally. The trailing part of the draping region with the electron pancake distribution was considered to be one possible source region. On the contrary, the upper band whistler waves were all found in the core region and propagated antiparallel to the magnetic field and therefore originated from the same source region. The observations confirmed that the FTEs are important channels for the mass and wave transport between the magnetosheath and the inner magnetosphere, and the electron dynamics can be modified during the FTE evolution.
Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental plasma process, by which magnetic energy is explosively released in the current sheet to energize charged particles and to create bidirectional Alfvénic plasma jets. Numerical simulations predicted that evolution of the reconnecting current sheet is dominated by formation and interaction of magnetic flux ropes, which finally leads to turbulence. Accordingly, most volume of the reconnecting current sheet is occupied by the ropes, and energy dissipation occurs via multiple relevant mechanisms, e.g., the parallel electric field, the rope coalescence and the rope contraction. As an essential element of the reconnecting current sheet, however, how these ropes evolve has been elusive. Here, we present direct evidence of secondary reconnection in the filamentary currents within the ropes. The observations indicate that secondary reconnection can make a significant contribution to energy conversion in the kinetic scale during turbulent reconnection.
A strong electron jet was detected in a broad current sheet with a significant pressure anisotropy • The electron jet was identified as an extended electron diffusion region and large-scale parallel electric field was observed inside it • Parallel electric field generates a potential of 120 V and dominates electron acceleration therein
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