Gyrokinetic simulations of collisionless reconnection in turbulent non-uniform plasmas

Journal Article · Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4873703· OSTI ID:22253029

Kobayashi, Sumire ^[1]; Rogers, Barrett N. ^[2]; Numata, Ryusuke ^[3]

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1. Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex (France)
2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 (United States)
3. Graduate School of Simulation Studies, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima Minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047 (Japan)

We present nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations of collisionless magnetic reconnection with non-uniformities in the plasma density, the electron temperature, and the ion temperature. The density gradient can stabilize reconnection due to diamagnetic effects but destabilize driftwave modes that produce turbulence. The electron temperature gradient triggers microtearing modes that drive rapid small-scale reconnection and strong electron heat transport. The ion temperature gradient destabilizes ion temperature gradient modes that, like the driftwaves, may enhance reconnection in some cases.

• OSTI ID: 22253029
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 21, Issue 4; Other Information: (c) 2014 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
HEAT TRANSFER
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
TURBULENCE