Electron Heating in Magnetosheath Turbulence: Dominant Role of the Parallel Electric Field Within Coherent Structures

How particles are being energized by turbulent electromagnetic fields is an outstanding question in plasma physics and astrophysics. This paper investigates the electron acceleration mechanism in strong turbulence (delta B/B-0 similar to 1) in the Earth's magnetosheath based on the novel observations of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. We find that electrons are magnetized in turbulent fields for the majority of the time. By directly calculating the electron acceleration rate from Fermi, betatron mechanism, and parallel electric field, it is found that electrons are primarily accelerated by the parallel electric field within coherent structures. Moreover, the acceleration rate by parallel electric fields increases as the spatial scale reduces, with the most intense acceleration occurring over about one ion inertial length. This study is an important step toward fully understanding the turbulent energy dissipation in weakly collisional plasmas.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the electron acceleration mechanism in strong turbulence in the Earth's magnetosheath based on novel observations. The study finds that electrons are magnetized in turbulent fields for the majority of the time and primarily accelerated by the parallel electric field within coherent structures. The acceleration rate increases as the spatial scale reduces, with the most intense acceleration occurring over about one ion inertial length.