Wednesday, October 09, 2024 - 3:10 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.
Morse Hall, rm 301 -OR- Zoom
Presenter:
Kristina Pritchard (Research Scientist, UNH)
Full Title:
Magnetic Reconnection on the Dayside of the Earth: Electron Acceleration and Electric Fields in the Electron Diffusion Region
Abstract:
Magnetic reconnection on the dayside of Earth results in the transfer of energy and momentum from the solar wind into Earth's magnetosphere by the reconfiguration of magnetic fields. In this presentation we discuss the solar and magnetospheric systems and how they contribute to this particular phenomenon. Reconnection is a physical process that has been studied since the mid-twentieth century on the ion scale.
Since the launch of NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS), we have been able to study the reconnection region at the electron scale. The electric fields and electron acceleration at the electron diffusion region (EDR) are the focus of this study. We consider the reconnection rate of nearly 50 events and find an agreement between observation and theory that the normalized reconnection rate is on the order of 0.15.
Passcode:
UNHSSC2024
Free drinks and refreshments will be provided in Morse Hall.
Schedule:
Check out the rest of this season's Space Science Seminar Series, as well as previous recordings.
