Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Article number | 25 |
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark> | 7/09/2017 |
<mark>Journal</mark> | Astrophysical Journal Letters |
Issue number | 2 |
Volume | 846 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Publication Status | Published |
<mark>Original language</mark> | English |
Using measurements from the Cassini spacecraft in Saturn's magnetosphere, we propose a 3D physical picture of a corotating reconnection site, which can only be driven by an internally generated source. Our results demonstrate that the corotating magnetic reconnection can drive an expansion of the current sheet in Saturn's magnetosphere and, consequently, can produce Fermi acceleration of electrons. This reconnection site lasted for longer than one of Saturn's rotation period. The long-lasting and corotating natures of the magnetic reconnection site at Saturn suggest fundamentally different roles of magnetic reconnection in driving magnetospheric dynamics (e.g., the auroral precipitation) from the Earth. Our corotating reconnection picture could also potentially shed light on the fast rotating magnetized plasma environments in the solar system and beyond.