MMS Observations of Plasma Heating Associated With FTE Growth

Abstract

Upon formation, flux transfer events (FTEs) in the subsolar magnetosheath have been observed to grow in diameter, λ, while convecting along the magnetopause. Plasma pressure has also been found to decrease subâ adiabatically with increasing λ, indicating the presence of internal plasma acceleration and heating processes. Here, the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) fields and plasma measurements are used to determine the relative roles of parallel electric fields, betatron, and Fermi processes in plasma heating inside an ensemble of 55 subsolar FTEs. Plasma heating is shown asymmetric inside FTEs. Parallel electric fields dominate (>75%) ion and electron heating at the leading edge of FTEs. At the trailing edge, betatron and Fermi processes overtake (>50%), resulting in ion cooling and electron heating, respectively. The observed strong net heatings inside FTEs are proportional to λâ 1/2. It is concluded that reconnectionâ driven heating continues inside FTEs far from the subsolar electron and ion diffusion regions.Plain Language SummaryEnergetic charged particles are observed in many space and astrophysical environments, including our solar system. However, the acceleration and heating mechanisms responsible for generating these energetic charged particles remain to be discovered. Simulations and in situ observations have shown that magnetic reconnection, a process through which magnetic field lines â reconnectâ and release magnetic energy, plays a major role in generating energetic charged particles. The primary sites for magnetic energy transfer to charged particle acceleration and heating are the twin exhaust regions that emanate from the reconnection Xâ line. However, the amount of kinetic energy gained by charged particles in the exhaust regions represents only a small fraction of the total energy released by magnetic reconnection. Here, the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) multipoint fields and plasma measurements are used to determine the contributions of acceleration mechanisms operating inside flux transfer events (FTEs), which are formed in the reconnection exhaust regions. We observe that acceleration mechanisms contribute to the charged particles’ energy gain inside FTEs. We further reveal that while acceleration mechanisms are most significant inside smaller FTEs, they continue to accelerate charged particles inside larger FTEs. We conclude that magnetic reconnectionâ driven charged particle acceleration is longâ lasting and can take place far from the exhaust regions.Key PointsThe relative roles of parallel electric fields, betatron, and Fermi processes in plasma heating inside 55 subsolar FTEs are determinedParallel electric fields dominate plasma energization at FTEs’ leading edge. Betatron and Fermi processes overtake at FTEs’ trailing edgeMMS observations reveal strong plasma acceleration inside FTEs that is inversely proportional to the square root of FTE diameter