Characteristics of Electron Pitch-angle Distribution in the Flapping Magnetotail

Abstract

Abstract The configuration, local motions, and related physics processes of the terrestrial magnetotail have been well studied, playing a key role in magnetotail dynamics. But characteristics of electron pitch-angle distribution (PAD), and the formation mechanisms, at different regions in the flapping magnetotail were not pointed out. Here, we study a current sheet crossing event detected by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission inside a magnetotail, and investigate the electron PAD of the event in detail. When the spacecraft are out of the current sheet, low-energy and high-energy electrons present field-aligned PAD and cigar-type PAD, respectively. This difference shows different motions of electrons. We proposed two possible explanation mechanisms: crossing a newly dipolarized magnetotail, or crossing the exhaust region of the reconnection region, and we discussed them in the paper adequately. Based on the dipolarized mechanism, for the first time, we point out that bouncing electrons could be the indicator of a newly dipolarized magnetotail. In addition, four other current sheet crossing cases with similar signatures are observed. Our study improves the understanding of current sheet dynamics and magnetotail configuration physics.