Electron acceleration in the reconnection diffusion region: Cluster observations

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Abstract

We present one case study of magnetic islands and energetic electrons in the reconnection diffusion region observed by the Cluster spacecraft. The cores of the islands are characterized by strong core magnetic fields and density depletion. Intense currents, with the dominant component parallel to the ambient magnetic field, are detected inside the magnetic islands. A thin current sheet is observed in the close vicinity of one magnetic island. Energetic electron fluxes increase at the location of the thin current sheet, and further increase inside the magnetic island, with the highest fluxes located at the core region of the island. We suggest that these energetic electrons are firstly accelerated in the thin current sheet, and then trapped and further accelerated in the magnetic island by betatron and Fermi acceleration.

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