Electron Vortex Arrays Associated With Lower‐Hybrid Waves in Magnetic Reconnection Exhausts

Magnetic reconnection is a universal process that converts magnetic energy into particle energy. Although lower‐hybrid waves (LHWs) have been widely studied in and near reconnection diffusion regions, their evolution and role in structuring the broader reconnection exhaust remain largely unexplored. Here we report direct observations of electron vortex arrays associated with LHWs. The observed waves drive coherent electron vortical flows that organize into ordered arrays along the ion jet boundary. Electron vortical flows and LHWs are observed in a mixed‐ion reconnection environment containing cold magnetospheric ions and warm magnetosheath ions. The electron vortical flows are spatially nonuniform along the background magnetic field, suggesting that the vortex radius may vary along the field. These results demonstrate that wave‐driven electron vortices play an important role in the fine‐scale structuring of reconnection exhausts.