NASA spacecraft discovers new magnetic process in turbulent space


NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center


Magnetic reconnection is one of the most important processes in the space – filled with charged particles known as plasma – around Earth. The new discovery found reconnection where it has never been seen before – in turbulent plasma. Previously, scientists didn’t know if reconnection even could occur there, as the plasma is highly chaotic in that region. MMS uses four identical spacecraft flying in a pyramid formation to study magnetic reconnection around Earth in three dimensions. Crucially, MMS scientists were able to leverage the design of one instrument, the Fast Plasma Investigation, to create a technique to interpolate the data – essentially allowing them to read between the lines and gather extra data points – in order to resolve the jets.


Visit Link


Tags: