Driven reconnection in a quadrupole cusp field

Journal Article · Mon Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2032647· OSTI ID:20764441

Aydemir, A Y ^[1]

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1. Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712 (United States)

Driven magnetic reconnection in a quadrupole cusp field is examined numerically in various collisionality regimes. Quasi-steady-state reconnection rates far in excess of often-quoted limits are observed. As expected, the rate is determined by external boundary conditions and appears to be limited only by computational concerns; thus, in this configuration the slow reconnection is differentiated from the fast one only by changes in the reconnection-layer geometry. Collisional reconnection exhibits the typical extended current layer of the Sweet-Parker model, whereas the collisionless reconnection mediated by kinetic-Alven or whistler waves has the Petschek-type 'X-layer' configuration. The current density at the X point is reduced in the collisionless cases, in qualitative agreement with the results from the Versatile Toroidal Facility experiment.

• OSTI ID: 20764441
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 12; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALFVEN WAVES
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
CURRENT DENSITY
CUSPED GEOMETRIES
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
GEOMETRY
LAYERS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
QUADRUPOLES
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
WHISTLERS