Letter abstract
Nature Physics 3, 235 - 238 (2007)
Published online: 25 March 2007 | doi:10.1038/nphys574
Subject Categories: Astrophysics | Plasma physics
In situ evidence of magnetic reconnection in turbulent plasma
A. Retinò1,2, D. Sundkvist3, A. Vaivads1, F. Mozer3, M. André1 & C. J. Owen4
Magnetic reconnection is a universal process leading to energy conversion in plasmas1. It occurs in the Solar System2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, in laboratory plasmas 8 and is important in astrophysics 9, 10. Reconnection has been observed so far only at large-scale boundaries between different plasma environments 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. It is not known whether reconnection occurs and is important in turbulent plasmas where many small-scale boundaries can form. Solar11 and laboratory12 measurements as well as numerical simulations 13, 14, 15, 16 indicate such possibility. Here we report, for the first time, in situ evidence of reconnection in a turbulent plasma. The turbulent environment is the solar wind downstream of the Earth's bow shock. We show that reconnection is fast and electromagnetic energy is converted into heating and acceleration of particles. This has significant implications for laboratory and astrophysical plasmas where both turbulence and reconnection should be common.
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics, SE-75121 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Astronomy and Space Physics, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Dorking, RH5 6NT, UK
Correspondence to: A. Retinò1,2 e-mail: Alessandro.Retino@irfu.se
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