Magnetic Cloud Boundary Layers and Magnetic Reconnection

This thesis focuses on magnetic reconnection processes in the boundary layer of the interplanetary magnetic cloud. Magnetic reconnection is an important and frontier topic in the realm of physics. Various physical phenomena can be observed during the reconnection process but lots of them are not fully understood. This thesis provides the first observational evidence of energetic electrons associated with magnetic reconnection in the solar wind and discusses the particle acceleration problems. In addition, after analyzing the particle flux variations in Magnetic Cloud Boundary Layer, the thesis proposes a possible new criterion for the identification of magnetic reconnection in the solar wind. These tantalizing results could be particular clues to understand the dynamical problems in magnetic reconnection processes.

Autorentext

Dr. Yi Wang

Education:

Ph.D. in Space Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, June, 2012

B.S. in Space Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, June, 2007

Professional Experience:

2012 July - present: Research Associate, National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Research Interests:

Magnetic reconnection and particle acceleration; waves and turbulence in the solar wind.

Inhalt
Introduction.- Energetic electrons accelerated by magnetic reconnection in the solar wind.- The acceleration of energetic electrons in magnetic reconnection.- Proton and electron flux variation in the magnetic cloud boundary layers.- The criterion of magnetic reconnection in the solar wind.- Waves and turbulence associated with magnetic reconnection in the solar wind.- Summary and outlook.