Collisionless Reconnection in an Electron-Positron Plasma

Journal Article · Fri Dec 09 00:00:00 EST 2005 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.245001· OSTI ID:20699677

Bessho, N; Bhattacharjee, A ^[1]

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1. Space Science Center and Center for Magnetic Self-Organization, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824 (United States)

Electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations of fast collisionless reconnection in a two-dimensional electron-positron plasma (without an equilibrium guide field) are presented. A generalized Ohm's law in which the Hall current cancels out exactly is given. It is suggested that the key to fast reconnection in this plasma is the localization caused by the off-diagonal components of the pressure tensors, which produce an effect analogous to a spatially localized resistivity.

• OSTI ID: 20699677
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 95, Issue 24; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.245001; (c) 2005 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
ELECTRONS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
OHM LAW
PLASMA SIMULATION
POSITRONS
TENSORS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS