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Effect of electron dynamics on collisionless reconnection in two-dimensional magnetotail equilibria

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93JA03297· OSTI ID:121233
 [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Analytic theory has yielded contradictory predictions regarding the stabilizing role of electron dynamics on the collisionless tearing instability in a field-reversal region with finite normal magnetic field component B{sub z}. Two-dimensional (x,z) simulations in which both electrons and ions are treated as particles demonstrate that, for the case of thin current sheets (R{sub i}/{lambda} {approximately} 1, where R{sub i} is the ion Larmor radius based on the lobe field and {lambda} is the current sheet half thickness) and with weakly chaotic electron orbits, the ion tearing mode is indeed stabilized under the mild condition that k{rho}{sub e} {le} 1, where {rho}{sub e} is the electron Larmor radius in the B{sub z} field. 27 refs., 5 figs.
OSTI ID:
121233
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: A4 Vol. 99; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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