Mode Converting Alfv\'{e}n Waves from Magnetic Reconnection Enhancing the Energy Source for the Aurora Borealis
Plasma Physics
2020-04-27 v1
Abstract
Previous studies have concluded that the Hall magnetic field structures generated during magnetic reconnection are carried away by kinetic Alfv\'{e}n waves (KAW). Here we apply a kinetic simulation with an ion/electron mass ratio closer to its natural value and find that much-reduced damping rates permit the KAW to convert into shear Alfv\'{e}n waves (SAW). For magnetotail reconnection these SAW provides efficient transport of wave energy, enhancing the energy input for the Aurora Borealis by orders of magnitude above previous estimates.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2004.11755,
title = {Mode Converting Alfv\'{e}n Waves from Magnetic Reconnection Enhancing the Energy Source for the Aurora Borealis},
author = {Harsha Gurram and Jan Egedal and William Daughton},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2004.11755},
year = {2020}
}