Multistep Electron Acceleration in Multiple Dynamic Electron‐Scale Current Sheets.

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Title: Multistep Electron Acceleration in Multiple Dynamic Electron‐Scale Current Sheets.
Authors: Grigorenko, E. E.1 (AUTHOR) elenagrigorenko2003@yandex.ru, Du, C.2,3 (AUTHOR), Leonenko, M. V.1,4 (AUTHOR), Fu, H.2,3 (AUTHOR), Zelenyi, L. M.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics. Apr2026, Vol. 131 Issue 4, p1-19. 19p.
Subject Terms: Current sheets, Magnetic reconnection, Plasma flow, Magnetospheric physics, Electron beams, Collisionless plasmas
Company/Entity: Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (U.S.)
Abstract: We study multiple Electron‐scale Current Sheets (ECSs) formed in the Plasma Sheet (PS) perturbed by the propagation of ion Bursty Bulk Flows (BBFs) generated by the X‐line located downtail. The BBF arrival is followed by compression, magnetic flux pile‐up and an increase in the convection electric field. These phenomena supposedly trigger electron‐only Secondary Reconnection (SR) near the MMS location. We consider the accompanying physical effects as elementary bricks of the collisionless energy conversion in electron kinetic scales via generation of Cascading Electron Current Sheets (CECSs), which evolution leads to an additional electron acceleration and affects local electron anisotropy. The proposed scenario of CECS formation is as follows. The SR(s) accelerate field‐aligned electron jets, generating current filaments in the SR's outflow. The external drivers provided by the ion BBF force the filament merging and formation of quasi‐1D field‐aligned ECS(s). Further ECS thinning generates an inductive electric field directed along the current (EJ). This field provides: (a) an additional energy gain to current‐carrying electrons up to ∼1 keV resulting in generation of new field‐aligned ECS; (b) contributes to E×B $\boldsymbol{E}\times \boldsymbol{B}$ drift of magnetized electrons generating a new electron jet and the related perpendicular ECS with JE×B∼−e·n·[E×B]/B2 ${J}_{E\times B}\mathit{\sim }-e\mathit{\cdot }n\mathit{\cdot }[\boldsymbol{E}\times \boldsymbol{B}]/{B}^{2}$. The JE×B increase generates a new inductive EJ(1) directed along the JE×B. This field accelerates electrons in the direction perpendicular to B until the E×B $\boldsymbol{E}\times \boldsymbol{B}$ drift exists. Such cascade electron acceleration explains the appearance of ECSs with arbitrary current directions in different PS locations until the external drivers transfer the BBF's energy from the macroscale to the electron kinetic scales. Key Points: Enhanced convection electric field produced by ion BBF triggers acceleration of field‐aligned electron beams via secondary reconnectionMerging of field‐aligned current filaments produced by these beams results in the formation of dynamic electron current sheetsThinning of these sheets leads to additional cascade electron acceleration and generation of a new electron jets via E × B drift [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Multistep Electron Acceleration in Multiple Dynamic Electron‐Scale Current Sheets.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Grigorenko%2C+E%2E+E%2E%22">Grigorenko, E. E.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> elenagrigorenko2003@yandex.ru</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Du%2C+C%2E%22">Du, C.</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leonenko%2C+M%2E+V%2E%22">Leonenko, M. V.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fu%2C+H%2E%22">Fu, H.</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zelenyi%2C+L%2E+M%2E%22">Zelenyi, L. M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Space+Physics%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 131 Issue 4, p1-19. 19p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Current+sheets%22">Current sheets</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Magnetic+reconnection%22">Magnetic reconnection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plasma+flow%22">Plasma flow</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Magnetospheric+physics%22">Magnetospheric physics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electron+beams%22">Electron beams</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Collisionless+plasmas%22">Collisionless plasmas</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Magnetospheric+Multiscale+Mission+%28U%2ES%2E%29%22">Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (U.S.)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: We study multiple Electron‐scale Current Sheets (ECSs) formed in the Plasma Sheet (PS) perturbed by the propagation of ion Bursty Bulk Flows (BBFs) generated by the X‐line located downtail. The BBF arrival is followed by compression, magnetic flux pile‐up and an increase in the convection electric field. These phenomena supposedly trigger electron‐only Secondary Reconnection (SR) near the MMS location. We consider the accompanying physical effects as elementary bricks of the collisionless energy conversion in electron kinetic scales via generation of Cascading Electron Current Sheets (CECSs), which evolution leads to an additional electron acceleration and affects local electron anisotropy. The proposed scenario of CECS formation is as follows. The SR(s) accelerate field‐aligned electron jets, generating current filaments in the SR's outflow. The external drivers provided by the ion BBF force the filament merging and formation of quasi‐1D field‐aligned ECS(s). Further ECS thinning generates an inductive electric field directed along the current (EJ). This field provides: (a) an additional energy gain to current‐carrying electrons up to ∼1 keV resulting in generation of new field‐aligned ECS; (b) contributes to E×B $\boldsymbol{E}\times \boldsymbol{B}$ drift of magnetized electrons generating a new electron jet and the related perpendicular ECS with JE×B∼−e·n·[E×B]/B2 ${J}_{E\times B}\mathit{\sim }-e\mathit{\cdot }n\mathit{\cdot }[\boldsymbol{E}\times \boldsymbol{B}]/{B}^{2}$. The JE×B increase generates a new inductive EJ(1) directed along the JE×B. This field accelerates electrons in the direction perpendicular to B until the E×B $\boldsymbol{E}\times \boldsymbol{B}$ drift exists. Such cascade electron acceleration explains the appearance of ECSs with arbitrary current directions in different PS locations until the external drivers transfer the BBF's energy from the macroscale to the electron kinetic scales. Key Points: Enhanced convection electric field produced by ion BBF triggers acceleration of field‐aligned electron beams via secondary reconnectionMerging of field‐aligned current filaments produced by these beams results in the formation of dynamic electron current sheetsThinning of these sheets leads to additional cascade electron acceleration and generation of a new electron jets via E × B drift [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1029/2025JA034891
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Current sheets
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Magnetic reconnection
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plasma flow
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Magnetospheric physics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electron beams
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Collisionless plasmas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (U.S.)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Multistep Electron Acceleration in Multiple Dynamic Electron‐Scale Current Sheets.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Grigorenko, E. E.
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            NameFull: Du, C.
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            NameFull: Leonenko, M. V.
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            NameFull: Fu, H.
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            NameFull: Zelenyi, L. M.
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            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 21699380
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              Value: 131
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              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
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