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- Title
Torsional magnetic reconnection: The effects of localizing the non-ideal (ηJ) term.
- Authors
WYPER, PETER F.; JAIN, REKHA
- Abstract
Magnetic reconnection in three dimensions (3D) is a natural extension from X-point reconnection in two dimensions. Of central importance in the 3D process is a localized non-ideal region within which the plasma and magnetic field decouple allowing for field line connectivity change. In practice, localized current structures provide this localization; however, mathematically a similar effect can be achieved with the localization of plasma resistivity instead. Physically though, such approaches are unrealistic, as anomalous resistivity requires very localized currents. Therefore, we wish to know how much information is lost in localizing η instead of current? In this work we develop kinematic models for torsional spine and fan reconnection using both localized η and localized current and compare the non-ideal flows predicted by each. We find that the flow characteristics are dictated almost exclusively by the form taken for the current profile with η acting only to scale the flow. We do, however, note that the reconnection mechanism is the same in each case. Therefore, from an understanding point of view, localized η models are still important first steps into exploring the role of non-ideal effects.
- Subjects
MAGNETIC reconnection; MAGNETIC fields; PLASMA gases; KINEMATICS; FIELD theory (Physics)
- Publication
Journal of Plasma Physics, 2011, Vol 77, Issue 6, p843
- ISSN
0022-3778
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1017/S0022377811000262