http://arxiv.org/abs/1810.04324
The importance of the role of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in the penetration of solar wind matter into the magnetosphere has been well demonstrated. In particular, the double mid-latitude reconnection (DMLR) process is a good candidate for an efficient exchange of matter through mixing and reconnection of the solar wind magnetic field into the magnetosphere. In this article, particle populations are introduced into different configurations and their trajectories are integrated using the guiding center approximation. The acceleration mechanisms taking place are studied and may help to identify specific signatures of the DMLR through particle characteristics. Their orbits appear to be influenced mainly by the magnetic curvature acceleration terms while their kinetic energy reduces. However, part of the particle population is driven into complex trapped trajectories, from which those particles escape with a gain in kinetic energy originating from the perpendicular gradient term.
M. Leroy, B. Ripperda and R. Keppens
Thu, 11 Oct 18
32/72
Comments: submitted to Physics of Plasmas
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