Articles | Volume 29, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-29-1517-2011
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-29-1517-2011
Regular paper
 | 
01 Sep 2011
Regular paper |  | 01 Sep 2011

Observations of electron vorticity in the inner plasma sheet

C. Gurgiolo, M. L. Goldstein, A. F. Viñas, W. H. Matthaeus, and A. N. Fazakerley

Abstract. From a limited number of observations it appears that vorticity is a common feature in the inner plasma sheet. With the four Cluster spacecraft and the four PEACE instruments positioned in a tetrahedral configuration, for the first time it is possible to directly estimate the electron fluid vorticity in a space plasma. We show examples of electron fluid vorticity from multiple plasma sheet crossings. These include three time periods when Cluster passed through a reconnection ion diffusion region. Enhancements in vorticity are seen in association with each crossing of the ion diffusion region.

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