Electron heating/acceleration and evolution in transient magnetic structures associated with magnetic reconnection

Principal Investigator: Dr. Chen Zuzheng

Period：2023-2025

Project Description:

A long-standing problem in the study of space and astrophysical plasmas is how energetic electrons are produced and evolved during magnetic reconnection. Previous studies have demonstrated that transient magnetic structures associated with magnetic reconnection, such as magnetic flux rope and dipolarization front, play a crucial role in this process. However, owing to lack of high-resolution measurements, it is quite insufficient that the study on electron heating/acceleration and evolution caused by micro-scale magnetic structure and micro-scale electrostatic waves. In this project, we take advantage of high-resolution measurements by MMS and methods newly developed in recent years to study these problems, involving (1) electron heating and acceleration in electron-scale magnetic flux rope inside electron diffusion region, (2) electron heating and acceleration caused by broadband electrostatic waves in magnetic flux rope, and (3) electron pitch-angle scattering caused by broadband electrostatic waves behind dipolarization front. Results of the proposed research can promote understanding of production and evolution of energetic electrons during magnetic reconnection from micro-scale.