Magnetotail reconnection asymmetries in an ion-scale, Earth-like magnetosphere

We use a newly developed global Hall magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code to investigate how reconnection drives magnetotail asymmetries in small, ion-scale magnetospheres. Here, we consider a magnetosphere with a similar aspect ratio to Earth but with the ion inertial length (δi) artificially inflated by a factor of 70: δi is set to the length of the planetary radius. This results in a magnetotail width on the order of 30 δi, slightly smaller than Mercury's tail and much smaller than Earth's with respect to δi. At this small size, we find that the Hall effect has significant impact on the global flow pattern, changing from a symmetric, Dungey-like convection under resistive MHD to an asymmetric pattern similar to that found in previous Hall MHD simulations of Ganymede's subsonic magnetosphere as well as other simulations of Mercury's using multi-fluid or embedded kinetic physics. We demonstrate that the Hall effect is sufficient to induce a dawnward asymmetry in observed dipolarization front locations and find quasi-periodic global-scale dipolarizations under steady, southward solar wind conditions. On average, we find a thinner current sheet dawnward; however, the measured thickness oscillates with the dipolarization cycle. During the flux-pileup stage, the dawnward current sheet can be thicker than the duskward sheet. This could be an explanation for recent observations that suggest Mercury's current sheet is actually thicker on the duskside: a sampling bias due to a longer lasting “thick” state in the sheet.

Magnetotail Reconnection Asymmetries in a Small, Earth-Like Magnetosphere

We use a newly developed global Hall MHD code to investigate how reconnection drives magnetotail asymmetries in small magnetospheres. Here, we consider a scaled-down, Earth-like magnetosphere where the ion inertial length (δi) is artificially inflated to one planetary radius (the real Earth's δi ≈ 1/15–1/20 RE in the magnetotail). This results in a magnetotail width on the order of 30 δi, slightly smaller than Mercury's tail and much smaller than Earth's. At this small size, we find that the Hall effect has significant impact on the global flow pattern, changing from a symmetric, Dungey-like convection under resistive MHD to an asymmetric pattern similar to that found in previous Hall MHD simulations of Ganymede's subsonic magnetosphere as well as other simulations of Mercury's using multi-fluid or embedded kinetic physics. We demonstrate that the Hall effect is sufficient to induce a dawnward asymmetry in observed dipolarization front locations and find quasi-periodic global scale dipolarizations under steady, southward solar wind conditions. On average, we find a thinner current sheet dawnward; however, the measured thickness oscillates with the dipolarization cycle. During the flux-pileup stage, the dawnward current sheet can be thicker than the duskward sheet. This could be an explanation for recent observations that suggest Mercury's current sheet is actually thicker on the duskside: a sampling bias due to a longer-lasting "thick" state in the sheet.

Flows in the Magnetotail

<p>Magnetic reconnection leads to fast streaming of electrons and ions away from the reconnection site. We have used an implicit particle-in-cell simulation (iPic3D) embedded within a global MHD simulation of the solar wind and magnetosphere interaction to investigate the evolution of electrons and ion flows in the magnetotail. We first ran the MHD simulation driven by solar wind observations and then used the MHD results to set the initial and boundary conditions for the PIC simulation. Then we let the PIC state evolve and investigated the electron and ion motion. Within a few seconds of the onset of reconnection, electrons near the reconnection site stream earthward at 500-700km/s while the ions move at less than 100 km/s. For electrons, magnetic trapping occurs very close to the reconnection site and they move mostly in the X<sub>GSM </sub>direction at the <strong>E</strong>×<strong>B/</strong>B<sup>2</sup> velocity.  Ion trapping occurs several Earth radii from the reconnection site about 100 s after the start of reconnection where both the electrons and ions move together at ~<strong>E</strong>×<strong>B/</strong>B<sup>2</sup> velocity. Although the particles are moving at the <strong>E</strong> × <strong>B</strong>/B<sup>2</sup> velocity, they are in a state defined by the kinetic physics not the state that exists in the MHD simulation.</p>

Multiscale modelling for tokamak pedestals

Pedestal modelling is crucial to predict the performance of future fusion devices. Current modelling efforts suffer either from a lack of kinetic physics, or an excess of computational complexity. To ameliorate these problems, we take a first-principles multiscale approach to the pedestal. We will present three separate sets of equations, covering the dynamics of edge localised modes (ELMs), the inter-ELM pedestal and pedestal turbulence, respectively. Precisely how these equations should be coupled to each other is covered in detail. This framework is completely self-consistent; it is derived from first principles by means of an asymptotic expansion of the fundamental Vlasov–Landau–Maxwell system in appropriate small parameters. The derivation exploits the narrowness of the pedestal region, the smallness of the thermal gyroradius and the low plasma$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$(the ratio of thermal to magnetic pressures) typical of current pedestal operation to achieve its simplifications. The relationship between this framework and gyrokinetics is analysed, and possibilities to directly match our systems of equations onto multiscale gyrokinetics are explored. A detailed comparison between our model and other models in the literature is performed. Finally, the potential for matching this framework onto an open-field-line region is briefly discussed.

Separatrices: The crux of reconnection

Magnetic reconnection is one of the key processes in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas: it is the opposite of a dynamo. Looking at energy, a dynamo transforms kinetic energy in magnetic energy while reconnection takes magnetic energy and returns it to its kinetic form. Most plasma processes at their core involve first storing magnetic energy accumulated over time and then releasing it suddenly. We focus here on this release. A key concept in analysing reconnection is that of the separatrix, a surface (line in 2D) that separates the fresh unperturbed plasma embedded in magnetic field lines not yet reconnected with the hotter exhaust embedded in reconnected field lines. In kinetic physics, the separatrices become a layer where many key processes develop. We present here new results relative to the processes at the separatrices that regulate the plasma flow, the energization of the species, the electromagnetic fields and the instabilities developing at the separatrices.