Electron Backflow Motions in the Outer Electron Diffusion Region During Magnetic Reconnection

Abstract

Abstract Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental physical process of rapidly converting magnetic energy into particles. The electron diffusion region (EDR) is the crucial region during magnetic reconnection. The outer EDR, which also plays a crucial role in magnetic reconnection, is responsible for energy conversion. In the outer EDR, the electrons are decelerated and return the energy to the magnetic field on the pileup region behind the reconnection front. In the present study, we used the fully kinetic particle‐in‐cell simulation and revealed that part of decelerated electrons in the outer EDR could even move back to the inner EDR. This phenomenon is caused by the dominant contribution from the magnetic tension force, and it suggests a magnetic Marangoni effect in space plasma, similar to the Marangoni effect in fluids. Our results potentially propose a brand‐new physical process and a novel mechanism in the EDR during magnetic reconnection.

Keywords

• magnetic reconnection
• outer electron diffusion region
• electron deceleration and backflow
• magnetic Marangoni effect