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Electron-scale Magnetic Peaks Upstream of the Terrestrial Bow Shock Observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission.
- Source :
-
Astrophysical Journal . 6/20/2021, Vol. 914 Issue 2, p1-9. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- The solar wind has rich wave activity and various magnetic structures. Here we report on a new type of magnetic structure in the solar wind using the unprecedented high temporal resolution data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission. We find that a train of magnetic peaks with a size less than 1 ion inertial length exists upstream of the terrestrial bow shock. The electron number density and the perpendicular electron temperature have a slight decrease inside the magnetic peaks, leading to a decrease of the electron thermal pressure in the structure. These structures are pressure-balanced, and they are approximately stationary in the ambient electron flow. These electron-scale magnetic peaks are identified as magnetic bottle–like, and their cross sections are roughly circular. The electron velocity has a bipolar feature relative to the ambient flow in the cross section, indicating the existence of an electron vortex. The current density is mainly contributed by electrons. The peaks occur in a marginally mirror-stable environment; thus they are not locally generated by mirror instabilities. We suggest that the origin of the electron vortex might help to shed light on the formation of electron-scale magnetic peaks in the solar wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0004637X
- Volume :
- 914
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Astrophysical Journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 151155077
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abfaa1