Absence of energetic particle effects associated with magnetic reconnection exhausts in the solar wind

Abstract

We have examined energetic particle data (>38 keV for electrons and >47 keV for protons) obtained in intervals surrounding a set of 7 encounters with Petschek-type reconnection exhausts in the solar wind by the Advanced Composition Explorer. We find no evidence for any substantial increases in energetic particle intensity associated with those encounters. This indicates that local reconnection is not a significant source of energetic particles in the solar wind and suggests the possibility that reconnection itself may not be a particularly effective process for populating other space and astrophysical environments with energetic particles. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.