2025 Workshop: KiTS-COMP

Kinetic scale thin current sheets are a common structure throughout the solar system. At Earth, they are often seen in the growth phase of substorms in the magnetotail. These current sheets exist on an ion scale and stretch the magnetic field. Similar thin current sheets have also been seen in cislunar space and the solar wind as well, with scales even approaching the electron gyroradius. The stability and formation of these current sheets are not well understood, but are an important part of the energy exchange in plasmas in all planetary magnetospheres and the solar wind. In this joint session, we hope to bring together researchers from both the KiTS and COMP focus groups to share their expertise on this topic. Linking dynamics between planetary magnetospheres can shed light on the formation and stability of thin current sheets by identifying the similarities and dynamics of thin current sheets in different environments. We plan to give presentations ~10 minutes each (including questions) to explore these thin current sheets throughout the solar system.