Rotationally driven magnetic reconnection in Saturn’s dayside

[en] Magnetic reconnection is a key process that explosively accelerates charged particles, generating phenomena such as nebular flares1, solar flares2 and stunning aurorae3. In planetary magnetospheres, magnetic reconnection has often been identified on the dayside magnetopause and in the nightside magnetodisc, where thin-current-sheet conditions are conducive to reconnection4. The dayside magnetodisc is usually considered thicker than the nightside due to the compression of solar wind, and is therefore not an ideal environment for reconnection. In contrast, a recent statistical study of magnetic flux circulation strongly suggests that magnetic reconnection must occur throughout Saturn’s dayside magnetosphere5. Additionally, the source of energetic plasma can be present in the noon sector of giant planetary magnetospheres6. However, so far, dayside magnetic reconnection has only been identified at the magnetopause. Here, we report direct evidence of near-noon reconnection within Saturn’s magnetodisc using measurements from the Cassini spacecraft. The measured energetic electrons and ions (ranging from tens to hundreds of keV) and the estimated energy flux of ~2.6 mW m– 2 within the reconnection region are sufficient to power aurorae. We suggest that dayside magnetodisc reconnection can explain bursty phenomena in the dayside magnetospheres of giant planets, which can potentially advance our understanding of quasi-periodic injections of relativistic electrons6 and auroral pulsations7. © 2018, The Author(s).

Research center :

STAR - Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research - ULiège

Disciplines :

Space science, astronomy & astrophysics

Author, co-author :

Guo, R. L.; Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire, STAR Institute, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium

Yao, Zhonghua ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)

Wei, Y.; Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Ray, L. C.; Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom

Rae, I. J.; Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Dorking, United Kingdom

Arridge, C. S.; Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom

Coates, A. J.; Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Dorking, United Kingdom

Delamere, P. A.; University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute, Fairbanks, AK, United States

Sergis, N.; Office for Space Research and Technology, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece, Institute of Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, National Observatory of Athens, Athens, Greece

Kollmann, P.; Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, MD, United States

More authors (7 more)

Language :

English

Title :

Rotationally driven magnetic reconnection in Saturn’s dayside

Publication date :

2018

Journal title :

Nature Astronomy

eISSN :

2397-3366

Publisher :

Nature Publishing Group

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

640-645

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0461-9

Available on ORBi :

since 07 January 2019

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