Observational evidence of accelerating electron holes and their effects on passing ions

Autor: Yue Dong, Zhigang Yuan, Shiyong Huang, Zuxiang Xue, Xiongdong Yu, C. J. Pollock, R. B. Torbert, J. L. Burch
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Nature Communications, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2041-1723
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43033-4
Popis: Abstract As a universal structure in space plasma, electron holes represent an obvious signature of nonlinear process. Although the theory has a 60-year history, whether electron hole can finally accelerate ambient electrons (or ions) is quite controversial. Previous theory for one-dimensional holes predicts that net velocity change of passing electrons (or ions) occurs only if the holes have non-zero acceleration. However, the prediction has not yet been demonstrated in observations. Here, we report four electron holes whose acceleration/deceleration is obtained by fitting the spatial separations and detection time delays between different Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft. We find that electron hole acceleration/deceleration is related to the ion velocity distribution gradient at the hole’s velocity. We observe net velocity changes of ions passing through the accelerating/decelerating holes, in accordance with theoretical predictions. Therefore, we show that electron holes with non-zero acceleration can cause the velocity of passing ions to increase in the acceleration direction.
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