Observations of Turbulence Generated by Magnetic Reconnection
Publication date: 20 January 2009
Authors: Eastwood, J.P. et al.
Journal: Phys. Rev. Lett.
Volume: 102
Issue: 3
ID: 035001
Year: 2009
Copyright: The American Physical Society
Spacecraft observations of turbulence within a magnetic reconnection (guide field ~0) ion diffusion region are presented. In the inertial subrange, electric and magnetic fluctuations both followed a -5/3 power law; at higher frequencies, the spectral indices were -1 and -8/3, respectively. The dispersion relation was found to be consistent with fast-mode-whistler waves rather than kinetic Alfvén-ion cyclotron waves. Lower hybrid waves, which could be enhanced by whistler mode conversion, were observed, but the associated anomalous resistivity was not found to significantly modify the reconnection rate.
Link to publication