Magnetic reconnection with electron viscosity in electron magnetohydrodynamics
- CAS Key Laboratory of Basic Plasma Physics, School of Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 (China)
The general dispersion relation of collisionless reconnection instability due to electron viscosity {mu}{sub e} in the whistler frequency is derived. In the framework of electron magnetohydrodynamics (EMHD), the evolution of magnetic reconnection instability is studied, and the linear growth rates are obtained. The scaling laws of the reconnection instability growth rate with respect to the electron viscosity in constant-{psi} (used in the tearing mode) and low-k regimes are obtained, respectively, and compare with those obtained in standard magnetohydrodynamic theory. In the constant-{psi} regime for 'tearing-mode-like' instability, the growth rate is proportional to {mu}{sub e}{sup 1/4}, while in the low-k regime, it is proportional to {mu}{sub e}{sup 1/8}.
- OSTI ID:
- 21106156
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 15, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2876622; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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