Turbulence-Driven Magnetic Reconnection: From Cluster and Magnetospheric Multiscale to Plasma Observatory

Magnetic reconnection events generated by tangled magnetic fields produced in turbulent plasmas have long been thought to play an important role in turbulent dynamics. These events have traditionally been challenging to examine from either a numerical or observational perspective due to their small-scale nature and complex magnetic topologies. However, multi-spacecraft measurements have provided a step-change in understanding this complex phenomenon. Since the days of Cluster, evidence has been found for turbulence-driven magnetic reconnection embedded within the turbulent fluctuations of Earth's magnetosheath, making it an ideal location for studying the physics and importance of turbulence-driven magnetic reconnection. In this presentation, we will highlight the observational insights into turbulence-driven reconnection that have been enabled by the systematic identification and analysis of reconnection events in Earth's magnetosheath by missions such as NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) and ESA’s Cluster missions – including the importance of so-called electron-only reconnection and estimates that suggest magnetic reconnection can account for a significant fraction of the energy dissipated in turbulent plasmas. Using kinetic simulations of turbulence reminiscent of the plasmas found in Earth’s magnetosheath, we will further demonstrate and evaluate how multi-scale measurements from a mission such as ESA’s proposed Plasma Observatory will enable key observational constraints characterizing the 3D structure and distribution of turbulence-driven magnetic reconnection events that will usher in a new era of advancements on the subject.