Lower Hybrid Drift Waves During Guide Field Reconnection

Jongsoo Yoo, Jeong Young Ji, M. V. Ambat, Shan Wang, Hantao Ji, Jenson Lo, Bowen Li, Yang Ren, J. Jara-Almonte, Li Jen Chen, William Fox, Masaaki Yamada, Andrew Alt, Aaron Goodman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Generation and propagation of lower hybrid drift wave (LHDW) near the electron diffusion region (EDR) during guide field reconnection at the magnetopause is studied with data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission and a theoretical model. Inside the current sheet, the electron beta (βe) determines which type of LHDW is excited. Inside the EDR, where the electron beta is high (βe ∼ 5), the long-wavelength electromagnetic LHDW is observed propagating obliquely to the local magnetic field. In contrast, the short-wavelength electrostatic LHDW, propagating nearly perpendicular to the magnetic field, is observed slightly away from the EDR, where βe is small (∼0.6). These observed LHDW features are explained by a local theoretical model, including effects from the electron temperature anisotropy, finite electron heat flux, electrostatics, and parallel current. The short-wavelength LHDW is capable of generating significant drag force between electrons and ions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2020GL087192
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume47
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 16 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Keywords

  • Dispersion relation
  • Electromagnetic fluctuation
  • Lower hybrid drift wave
  • Magnetic reconnection

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Lower Hybrid Drift Waves During Guide Field Reconnection'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this