MMS Observations of Kinetic Features in the Earth's Bursty Bulk Flow Braking Region
Résumé
We present MMS observations of particle and wave activity in the Earth's Bursty Bulk Flow (BBF) Braking region (6 - 12 Earth radii tailward). This region, previously examined by the THEMIS spacecraft, has shown evidence of bursty, high velocity, Earthward particle flows, turbulent magnetic fields, and large amplitude electric field signatures (amplitudes can, at times, exceed 100 mV/m). Kinetic features such as double layers, electron phase-space holes, and magnetic holes have been observed frequently throughout this region. The Magnetospheric Multi-scale (MMS) spacecraft, launched March 2015, are currently orbiting the Earth with the objective of observing the microphysics of magnetic reconnection. During its commissioning phase (March 2015 - August 2015), all four spacecraft apogees were primarily in the BBF Braking region. The presence of MMS in this region can offer higher spatial and temporal resolution of the BBF Braking region than ever before. We examine MMS observations kinetic structures (double layers, electron phase-space and magnetic holes) to further characterize the BBF braking region and its overall effects on the Earth space environment.