On the Dipolarization Front and Magnetopause: 3. Evidence of Electron Kelvin–Helmholtz Instability at Dipolarization Front.
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| Title: | On the Dipolarization Front and Magnetopause: 3. Evidence of Electron Kelvin–Helmholtz Instability at Dipolarization Front. |
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| Authors: | Fu, W. D.1,2 (AUTHOR), Fu, H. S.1,2 (AUTHOR) huishanf@gmail.com, Wang, C.3,4 (AUTHOR), Dai, L.3 (AUTHOR), Han, D.‐S.5 (AUTHOR), Yu, Y.1,2 (AUTHOR), Wang, Z.1,2 (AUTHOR), Toledo‐Redondo, S.6 (AUTHOR), Hwang, K.‐J.7 (AUTHOR), Nakamura, R.8 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics. Aug2025, Vol. 130 Issue 8, p1-11. 11p. |
| Subject Terms: | Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, Magnetopause, Shear flow, Interface dynamics, Solar wind, Magnetosphere |
| Company/Entity: | Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (U.S.) |
| Abstract: | Over the past 6 decades, Kelvin–Helmholtz (K–H) vortices, arising from quasi‐viscous flow velocity shear on the flanks of the magnetopause, have been extensively studied and are recognized as a key pathway for solar wind entry into the magnetosphere. Recent research by W. D. Fu et al. (2025a, (https://doi.org/10.1029/2025ja033633), 2025b), (https://doi.org/10.1029/2025ja033894) has shown that the magnetopause and dipolarization front share many similar characteristics, implying that such instabilities could also be triggered on the flanks of dipolarization fronts. Here, we report a DF crossing event observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, during which the spacecraft traversed from the dawnside flank of the front. Electron flow vortices were detected at the boundary, which are confirmed to result from electron K–H instability, developed by velocity shear in the electron flows. Using the FOTE‐V method, we reconstruct the local velocity topology and identify a vortex with a characteristic scale of ∼6 de, in agreement with theoretical predictions. These results provide direct evidence for electron K–H instability at the DF flanks, unveiling a new layer of complexity in boundary dynamics and offering a powerful window for studying these fundamental instabilities across different scales. Key Points: Electron flow vortices were observed on the flank of the dipolarization frontThe unstable criterion for the electron K–H instability is satisfied in the local plasma conditionThe scale of these electron flow vortices is consistent with the theoretical predictions for electron K–H vortices [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 187572015 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: On the Dipolarization Front and Magnetopause: 3. Evidence of Electron Kelvin–Helmholtz Instability at Dipolarization Front. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fu%2C+W%2E+D%2E%22">Fu, W. D.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fu%2C+H%2E+S%2E%22">Fu, H. S.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> huishanf@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+C%2E%22">Wang, C.</searchLink><relatesTo>3,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dai%2C+L%2E%22">Dai, L.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Han%2C+D%2E‐S%2E%22">Han, D.‐S.</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yu%2C+Y%2E%22">Yu, Y.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Z%2E%22">Wang, Z.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Toledo‐Redondo%2C+S%2E%22">Toledo‐Redondo, S.</searchLink><relatesTo>6</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hwang%2C+K%2E‐J%2E%22">Hwang, K.‐J.</searchLink><relatesTo>7</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nakamura%2C+R%2E%22">Nakamura, R.</searchLink><relatesTo>8</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Space+Physics%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics</searchLink>. Aug2025, Vol. 130 Issue 8, p1-11. 11p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kelvin-Helmholtz+instability%22">Kelvin-Helmholtz instability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Magnetopause%22">Magnetopause</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Shear+flow%22">Shear flow</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interface+dynamics%22">Interface dynamics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+wind%22">Solar wind</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Magnetosphere%22">Magnetosphere</searchLink> – Name: SubjectCompany Label: Company/Entity Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Magnetospheric+Multiscale+Mission+%28U%2ES%2E%29%22">Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (U.S.)</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Over the past 6 decades, Kelvin–Helmholtz (K–H) vortices, arising from quasi‐viscous flow velocity shear on the flanks of the magnetopause, have been extensively studied and are recognized as a key pathway for solar wind entry into the magnetosphere. Recent research by W. D. Fu et al. (2025a, (https://doi.org/10.1029/2025ja033633), 2025b), (https://doi.org/10.1029/2025ja033894) has shown that the magnetopause and dipolarization front share many similar characteristics, implying that such instabilities could also be triggered on the flanks of dipolarization fronts. Here, we report a DF crossing event observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, during which the spacecraft traversed from the dawnside flank of the front. Electron flow vortices were detected at the boundary, which are confirmed to result from electron K–H instability, developed by velocity shear in the electron flows. Using the FOTE‐V method, we reconstruct the local velocity topology and identify a vortex with a characteristic scale of ∼6 de, in agreement with theoretical predictions. These results provide direct evidence for electron K–H instability at the DF flanks, unveiling a new layer of complexity in boundary dynamics and offering a powerful window for studying these fundamental instabilities across different scales. Key Points: Electron flow vortices were observed on the flank of the dipolarization frontThe unstable criterion for the electron K–H instability is satisfied in the local plasma conditionThe scale of these electron flow vortices is consistent with the theoretical predictions for electron K–H vortices [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1029/2025JA034096 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 11 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Kelvin-Helmholtz instability Type: general – SubjectFull: Magnetopause Type: general – SubjectFull: Shear flow Type: general – SubjectFull: Interface dynamics Type: general – SubjectFull: Solar wind Type: general – SubjectFull: Magnetosphere Type: general – SubjectFull: Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (U.S.) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: On the Dipolarization Front and Magnetopause: 3. Evidence of Electron Kelvin–Helmholtz Instability at Dipolarization Front. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Fu, W. D. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Fu, H. S. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wang, C. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Dai, L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Han, D.‐S. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Yu, Y. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wang, Z. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Toledo‐Redondo, S. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hwang, K.‐J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nakamura, R. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 08 Text: Aug2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 21699380 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 130 – Type: issue Value: 8 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics Type: main |
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