Signatures of complex magnetic topologies from multiple reconnection sites induced by Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability

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  • Y. Vernisse
    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse France
  • B. Lavraud
    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse France
  • S. Eriksson
    Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
  • D. J. Gershman
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
  • J. Dorelli
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
  • C. Pollock
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
  • B. Giles
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
  • N. Aunai
    Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas Palaiseau France
  • L. Avanov
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
  • J. Burch
    Southwest Research Institute San Antonio Texas USA
  • M. Chandler
    NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville Alabama USA
  • V. Coffey
    NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville Alabama USA
  • J. Dargent
    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse France
  • R. E. Ergun
    Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
  • C. J. Farrugia
    Physics Department and Space Science Center University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
  • V. Génot
    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse France
  • D. B. Graham
    Swedish institute of Space Physics Uppsala Sweden
  • H. Hasegawa
    Institute of Space and Astronautical Science JAXA Sagamihara Japan
  • C. Jacquey
    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse France
  • I. Kacem
    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse France
  • Y. Khotyaintsev
    Swedish institute of Space Physics Uppsala Sweden
  • W. Li
    Swedish institute of Space Physics Uppsala Sweden
  • W. Magnes
    Space Research Institute Austrian Academy of Sciences Graz Austria
  • A. Marchaudon
    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse France
  • T. Moore
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
  • W. Paterson
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
  • E. Penou
    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse France
  • T. D. Phan
    Space Sciences Laboratory Berkeley California USA
  • A. Retino
    Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas Palaiseau France
  • C. T. Russell
    Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, and Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences University of California Los Angeles California USA
  • Y. Saito
    Institute of Space and Astronautical Science JAXA Sagamihara Japan
  • J.‐A. Sauvaud
    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse France
  • R. Torbert
    Physics Department and Space Science Center University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
  • F. D. Wilder
    Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
  • S. Yokota
    Institute of Space and Astronautical Science JAXA Sagamihara Japan

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<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission has demonstrated the frequent presence of reconnection exhausts at thin current sheets within Kelvin‐Helmholtz (KH) waves at the flank magnetopause. Motivated by these recent observations, we performed a statistical analysis of the boundary layers on the magnetosheath side of all KH current sheets on 8 September 2015. We show 86% consistency between the exhaust flows and particle leakage in the magnetosheath boundary layers but further highlight the very frequent presence of additional boundary layer signatures that do not come from the locally observed reconnection exhausts. These additional electron and ion boundary layers, of various durations and at various positions with respect to the leading and trailing boundaries of the KH waves, signal connections to reconnection sites at other locations. Based on the directionality and extent of these layers, we provide an interpretation whereby complex magnetic topologies can arise within KH waves from the combination of reconnection in the equatorial plane and at midlatitudes in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, where additional reconnection sites are expected to be triggered by the three‐dimensional field lines interweaving induced by the KH waves at the flanks (owing to differential flow and magnetic field shear with latitude). The present event demonstrates that the three‐dimensional development of KH waves can induce plasma entry (through reconnection at both midlatitude and equatorial regions) already sunward of the terminator where the instability remains in its linear stage.</jats:p>

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