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Three‐dimensional structure and kinetic features of reconnection exhaust jets
Author(s) -
Pritchett P. L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1002/2015ja022053
Subject(s) - physics , maxima , front (military) , jet (fluid) , kinetic energy , dissipation , inertia , ion , mechanics , particle (ecology) , atomic physics , molecular physics , classical mechanics , meteorology , thermodynamics , geology , quantum mechanics , art , performance art , art history , oceanography
The structure of exhaust jets produced by a magnetic reconnection source region of width ∼3 R E in the out‐of‐plane direction is investigated with 3‐D particle‐in‐cell simulations. The jet is found to separate into two segments, with the dawnward portion propagating ahead of, and expanding duskward in front of, the duskward one. In such conditions, an orbiting spacecraft would encounter repeated sharp B z increases. Both segments exhibit east‐west structures on scales of a few ion inertia lengths. The narrow J y current sheets that produce the sharp B z increases are associated with electron flows. The ion temperature components T i x x and T i y y display markedly different behaviors, with the former exhibiting maxima both downstream and, in some locations, upstream of the front, while the latter exhibits maxima along the y extended front. The maximum load factor E · J at the front is several times larger in 3‐D than in 2‐D, is concentrated in numerous sub‐ion‐scale enhancements, and includes a significant ion dissipation contribution.