An intuitive two-fluid picture of spontaneous 2D collisionless magnetic reconnection and whistler wave generation

Yoon, Young Dae; Bellan, Paul M.

doi:10.1063/1.5016345

An intuitive two-fluid picture of spontaneous 2D collisionless magnetic reconnection and whistler wave generation

Journal Article · Thu Mar 08 23:00:00 EST 2018 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5016345· OSTI ID:1540151

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California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Dept. of Applied Physics and Materials Science; DOE/OSTI
California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Dept. of Applied Physics and Materials Science

We show an intuitive and physical two-fluid picture of spontaneous 2D collisionless magnetic reconnection and whistler wave generation is presented in the framework of 3D electron-magnetohydrodynamics. In this regime, canonical circulation $$(Q=m_e∇×u+q_eB)$$ flux tubes can be defined in analogy to magnetic flux tubes in ideal magnetohydrodynamics. Following the 3D behavior of these Q flux tubes provides a new perspective on collisionless reconnection—a perspective that has been hard to perceive via examinations of 2D projections. This shows that even in a 2D geometry with an ignorable coordinate, a 3D examination is essential for a full comprehension of the process. Intuitive answers are given to three main questions in collisionless reconnection: why is reconnection spontaneous, why do particles accelerate extremely fast, and why are whistler waves generated? Possible extensions to other regimes are discussed.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-04ER54755

OSTI ID:: 1540151

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 25; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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The electron canonical battery effect in magnetic reconnection: Completion of the electron canonical vorticity framework Yoon, Young Dae; Bellan, Paul M. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 26, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5122225	journal	October 2019
Fast Ion Heating in Transient Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection via an Intrinsic Stochastic Mechanism Yoon, Young Dae; Bellan, Paul M. The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 868, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aaf0a3	journal	November 2018

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An intuitive two-fluid picture of spontaneous 2D collisionless magnetic reconnection and whistler wave generation

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