Three‐Dimensional Electron‐Scale Magnetic Reconnection in Earth's Magnetosphere

Two‐dimensional Hall reconnection model can explain the fast release of magnetic energy and most of its predictions have been demonstrated by in situ satellite observations. However, the three‐dimensional effect to reconnection remains poorly known. Recent numerical simulations have shown that three‐dimensional evolution is more complex than two‐dimensional in that reconnection occurs in multiple sites that are not necessarily in the primary neutral current sheet. Here, we present the first observational evidence for localized secondary reconnection at the separatrix surface of a magnetic flux rope (MFR). This secondary reconnection occurs between the axial magnetic field of the MFR, which points out‐of‐plane of the Earth's magnetopause reconnection, and the magnetospheric field. This three‐dimensional electron‐scale reconnection in the exhaust facilitates the cross‐scale energy conversion from the macro‐scale down to electron‐scale. Magnetic reconnection releases large amounts of magnetic energy in astrophysical, space and laboratory plasmas. For the decades, the reconnection has been investigated largely based on two‐dimensional models while the three‐dimensional effect to reconnection remains poorly known. It has been shown by numerical simulation that three‐dimensional evolution, because of the freedom in the out‐of‐plane direction, is turbulent and distinct from the two‐dimension laminar reconnection in that reconnection occurs in multiple sites that are not necessarily in the primary neutral current sheet. The turbulent reconnection is characterized by the formation and interaction of multiple flux ropes, or chaotic magnetic field lines in the outflow region. Although small‐scale magnetic flux ropes and their interactions have been observed, one important missing piece is whether reconnection occurs at the region away from the neutral current sheet. Here we present the first evidence for localized secondary reconnection at the separatrix surface of the primary reconnection. This secondary reconnection occurs between the axial magnetic field of the flux rope, which points out‐of‐plane of the magnetopause reconnection, and the magnetospheric field. This three‐dimensional patchy reconnection in the exhaust facilitates the cross‐scale energy conversion from the macro‐scale down to electron‐scale and leads to a turbulent evolution of reconnection. Three‐dimensional secondary electron‐scale reconnection was observed at the separatrix of a flux rope in the magnetosphereNew light on the destiny of flux rope from a three‐dimensional perspective: dissipation through the reconnection of the core fieldThe cross‐scale energy conversion is through the formation and dissipation of flux ropes Three‐dimensional secondary electron‐scale reconnection was observed at the separatrix of a flux rope in the magnetosphere New light on the destiny of flux rope from a three‐dimensional perspective: dissipation through the reconnection of the core field The cross‐scale energy conversion is through the formation and dissipation of flux ropes