Lower-Hybrid Drift Waves Driving Electron Nongyrotropic Heating and Vortical Flows in a Magnetic Reconnection Layer
Li‐Jen Chen, S. Wang, O. Le Contel, A. C. Rager, Michael Hesse, J. F. Drake, J. Dorelli, Jonathan Ng, Naoki Bessho, D. B. Graham, L. B. Wilson, T. E. Moore, B. L. Giles, W. R. Paterson, B. Lavraud, K. J. Genestreti, R. Nakamura, Y. V. Khotyaintsev, R. E. Ergun, R. B. Torbert, J. L. Burch, C. J. Pollock, C. T. Russell, Peter Lindqvist, L. A. Avanov
Abstract
We report measurements of lower-hybrid drift waves driving electron heating and vortical flows in an electron-scale reconnection layer under a guide field. Electrons accelerated by the electrostatic potential of the waves exhibit perpendicular and nongyrotropic heating. The vortical flows generate magnetic field perturbations comparable to the guide field magnitude. The measurements reveal a new regime of electron-wave interaction and how this interaction modifies the electron dynamics in the reconnection layer.