Event Details

Magnetic reconnection – new results from Magnetospheric Multiscale and Solar Orbiter

Abstract:

Magnetic reconnection is the process by which energy stored in the magnetic field surrounding current sheets is explosively released into hot jets of plasma and accelerated particles. As well as mediating energy transfer, reconnection also plays a key role in changing the topology of otherwise frozen-in space plasmas. For example, as is well known in solar-terrestrial physics, reconnection lies at the heart of the open magnetosphere concept, enabling the circulation of plasma through the magnetospheric system. Near-Earth space is therefore an excellent location to study magnetic reconnection, and recent spacecraft observations have enabled many new insights. In this talk, I will first discuss recent work looking at data from the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, using its unprecedented time resolution to examine the properties of energy fluxes in the vicinity of the electron diffusion region. I will then introduce the ESA Solar Orbiter mission, and discuss how data from Orbiter relates to MMS and other missions in studying reconnection, presenting new data relating to the properties of solar wind reconnection.