Describing Drift Instabilities in Magnetic Reconnection Using a Local Linear Model

Abstract

Observations of magnetic reconnection events in the magnetopause by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) show magnetic fluctuations and large electric fields possibly caused by electromagnetic drift instabilities, instabilities caused by a relative drift between electrons and ions within a magnetic field. Experiments in the MRX have also shown qualitatively similar magnetic fluctuations. We fully generalize a local, linear model originally published by Ji et. al, and extend it to cover these situations by carrying out a full calculation including guide field, magnetized ions, and kinetic effects.