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Reconnection Signatures in Kelvin Helmholtz Instability in PIC Simulations
  • +6
  • Narges Ahmadi,
  • Frederick Wilder,
  • Robert E Ergun,
  • David L. Newman,
  • Yi Qi,
  • Kai Germaschewski,
  • Stefan Eriksson,
  • Alexandros Chasapis,
  • Scot R. Elkington
Narges Ahmadi
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Frederick Wilder
Unknown
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Robert E Ergun
Univeristy of Colorado
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David L. Newman
University of Colorado Boulder
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Yi Qi
University of Colorado Boulder
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Kai Germaschewski
University of New Hampshire
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Stefan Eriksson
University of Colorado Boulder
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Alexandros Chasapis
University of Colorado
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Scot R. Elkington
University of Colorado Boulder
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Abstract

We performed 2D PIC simulations of Kelvin Helmholtz instability (KHI) with symmetric and asymmetric density and temperature profiles along the flow shear with a northward interplanetary magnetic field. The Magnetic Flux Transport method, field topology and magnetic field minimums are used to identify the reconnection X-lines. We start to observe the reconnection signatures such as magnetic field and flow reversals at the vortex edges in the nonlinear phase of the KHI when the vortices are rolling up. The number of reconnection regions increases at the turbulence phase. The signatures eventually decrease and finally disappear at very turbulent stages of KHI developments. Our results qualitatively agree with MMS observations of reconnection signatures at KHI along the magnetospheric flanks.
26 Mar 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
16 Apr 2024Published in ESS Open Archive