HR: 14:40h
AN: SH43A-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Direct Detection of Electron Demagnetization and Agyrotropy at Electron Diffusion Regions
AU: * Scudder, J D
EM: jack-scudder@uiowa.edu
AF: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Jefferson at Dubuque Streets, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
AU: Daughton, W
EM: william-daughton@uiowa.edu
AF: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Code X-1, Los Alamos, NM 87545, United States
AU: Li, S
EM: shanshan-li@uiowa.edu
AF: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Jefferson at Dubuque Streets, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
AU: Holdaway, R
EM: robert-holdaway@uiowa.edu
AF: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Jefferson at Dubuque Streets, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
AU: Glassberg, R
EM: robert-glassberg@uiowa.edu
AF: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Jefferson at Dubuque Streets, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
AB: The central focus of the non-ideal layers of collisionless reconnection is the electron diffusion region where field lines lose their traceability. This paper focuses on a new scalar observable, agyrotropy, for in situ and 3-D PIC certification of thermal electrons as being demagnetized, the essential property of the electron diffusion region. Hithertofore inferences of penetrations of the "electron diffusion region" have either centered on a magnetometer null reading in anti-parallel geometries, or a collection of tests involving only the electromagnetic field for guide geometries. These latter tests are not sufficient for the task of identifying the electron diffusion region. Examples of the incidence and onset of electron agyrotropy while traversing and near to current sheets will be presented from the Polar Hydra data at anti-parallel and guide field crossings of the magnetopause. Examples of the incidence and spatial distribution of electron agyrotropy expected from full PIC coded in open geometry will also be presented to motivate the labeling role that agyrotropy has for finding the electron diffusion regions, that is especially relevant in the guide geometry and 3d PIC simulations.
DE: 2723 Magnetic reconnection (7526, 7835)
DE: 7526 Magnetic reconnection (2723, 7835)
DE: 7835 Magnetic reconnection (2723, 7526)
SC: SPA-Solar and Heliospheric Physics [SH]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting