Shear Alfven Waves Driven by Magnetic Reconnection as an Energy Source for the Aurora Borealis

Previous studies have concluded that the Hall magnetic field structures generated during magnetic reconnection are carried away by kinetic Alfven waves. Here, we apply a kinetic simulation with an ion/electron mass ratio closer to its natural value and find that open boundary conditions and much reduced damping rates permit the shear Alfven waves (SAWs) to become the main carrier of wave energy. For magnetotail reconnection, these SAWs provide efficient transport of wave energy, enhancing the energy input for the Aurora Borealis by orders of magnitude above previous estimates.

Automated summary

This study found that shear Alfven waves (SAWs) can efficiently transport wave energy during magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail, greatly enhancing the energy input for the Aurora Borealis compared to previous estimates.