The ion to electron temperature ratio is a good indicator of the processes involved in the plasma sheet. We theoretically estimate how patchy magnetic reconnection electric field accelerates ions and electrons differently. As particles are transported earthward by BBFs after reconnection, the reflection of electrons from the ionosphere and subsequently multiple non-adiabatic accelerations at the reconnection site can explain the observed lower temperature ratios closer to the Earth.
The ion to electron temperature ratio is a good indicator of the processes involved in the...
1CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
2epartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
1CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
2epartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Received: 18 May 2018 – Accepted for review: 24 May 2018 – Discussion started: 30 May 2018
Abstract. The ion to electron temperature ratio is a good indicator of the processes involved in the plasma sheet. Observations have suggested that patchy reconnection and the resulting earthward bursty bulk flows (BBFs) transport may be involved in causing the lower temperature ratios at smaller radial distances during southward IMF periods. In this paper, we theoretically estimate how patchy magnetic reconnection electric field accelerates ions and electrons differently. If both ions and electrons are non-adiabatically accelerated merely once in a single reconnection, the temperature ratio would be preserved. However, the ratio would not be preserved if particles are accelerated multiple times. As particles are transported earthward by BBFs after reconnection, the reflection of electrons from the ionosphere and subsequently multiple non-adiabatic accelerations at the reconnection site can explain the observed lower temperature ratios closer to the Earth.
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The ion to electron temperature ratio is a good indicator of the processes involved in the plasma sheet. We theoretically estimate how patchy magnetic reconnection electric field accelerates ions and electrons differently. As particles are transported earthward by BBFs after reconnection, the reflection of electrons from the ionosphere and subsequently multiple non-adiabatic accelerations at the reconnection site can explain the observed lower temperature ratios closer to the Earth.
The ion to electron temperature ratio is a good indicator of the processes involved in the...