Sun
ID: 4569
One of the aspects of magnetic reconnection which makes it a difficult process to fully understand is the complex interactions between charged particles and the electromagnetic fields that dominate their motion. The electromagnetic fields determine the motion of the particles, but the motion of the particles changes the configuration of the electromagnetic fields.
In the visualizations below, we illustrate the magnetic field (cyan line structures) surrounding a reconnection region, sometimes called the X-line region, because the field lines form an X-like structure with most of the reconnection physics taking place in the center of the 'X'. In this case, the reconnection layer, sometimes called the diffusion region, lies in a thin region above and below the grey grid.
Inside this reconnection layer, there is an electric field that accelerates the charged particle along the y-axis, causing the particle to bounce back and forth between the regions above and below the reconnection layer. In those regions, there is a small magnetic field that is directed in opposite directions above and below the layer. This causes the charged particle to move in a curve, that bounces above and below the layer, creating the sinusiodal motion of the particle as moves along the y-axis. This is the guide-field off configuration.
But if there is a little bit of magnetic field parallel to the electric field (also in the y-direction) - the particle moves in the guide-field on configuration. In this case, the particle picks up a little extra gyro motion, perpendicular to the sinusoidal motion. This creates the loops which appear in the motion when looking along the y-axis. This additional motion pumps additional energy into the charged particle, until its trajectory slips outside the reconnection layer current sheet, and takes a little energy out of the field with it.
Additional References
Particle Trajectories in Model Current Sheets. 1. Analytical Solutions
T. W. Speiser
Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 70, pp 4219-4226 (1965)
Exploring Reconnection - Guide Field On
In the visualizations below, we illustrate the magnetic field (cyan line structures) surrounding a reconnection region, sometimes called the X-line region, because the field lines form an X-like structure with most of the reconnection physics taking place in the center of the 'X'. In this case, the reconnection layer, sometimes called the diffusion region, lies in a thin region above and below the grey grid.
Inside this reconnection layer, there is an electric field that accelerates the charged particle along the y-axis, causing the particle to bounce back and forth between the regions above and below the reconnection layer. In those regions, there is a small magnetic field that is directed in opposite directions above and below the layer. This causes the charged particle to move in a curve, that bounces above and below the layer, creating the sinusiodal motion of the particle as moves along the y-axis. This is the guide-field off configuration.
But if there is a little bit of magnetic field parallel to the electric field (also in the y-direction) - the particle moves in the guide-field on configuration. In this case, the particle picks up a little extra gyro motion, perpendicular to the sinusoidal motion. This creates the loops which appear in the motion when looking along the y-axis. This additional motion pumps additional energy into the charged particle, until its trajectory slips outside the reconnection layer current sheet, and takes a little energy out of the field with it.
Additional References
Particle Trajectories in Model Current Sheets. 1. Analytical Solutions
T. W. Speiser
Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 70, pp 4219-4226 (1965)
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For More Information
Visualization Credits
Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Visualizer
Mara Johnson-Groh (Wyle Information Systems): Lead Writer
Genna Duberstein (USRA): Lead Producer
Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Mara Johnson-Groh (Wyle Information Systems): Lead Writer
Genna Duberstein (USRA): Lead Producer
Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
Science Paper:
Electron diffusion region during magnetopause reconnection with an intermediate guide field: Magnetospheric multiscale observations
Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4569
Mission:
Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS)
Data Used:
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.
This item is part of this series:
Magnetic Reconnection & Guide Fields
Keywords:
SVS >> Magnetic Fields
SVS >> Magnetic Reconnection
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Sun
SVS >> Particles and Fields
SVS >> Speiser Motion
Electron diffusion region during magnetopause reconnection with an intermediate guide field: Magnetospheric multiscale observations
Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4569
Mission:
Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS)
Data Used:
ParticleSimulator
ModelThis item is part of this series:
Magnetic Reconnection & Guide Fields
Keywords:
SVS >> Magnetic Fields
SVS >> Magnetic Reconnection
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Sun
SVS >> Particles and Fields
SVS >> Speiser Motion
