Energy conversion during magnetic reconnection for magnetotail-like equilibria

Journal Article · Sun Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2354580· OSTI ID:20860294

Yoon, P H; Lui, A T. Y. ^[1]

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1. IPST, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-2431 (United States)

The principle of magnetic field-to-particle energy conversion for magnetic reconnection, originally developed by the authors for Harris-Fadeev equilibria, is extended to include a finite north-south (normal) component of the magnetic field, which is typical of the Earth's magnetotail environment. On the basis of the exact conservation laws derived from the nonlinear Vlasov equation, it is demonstrated that a small portion of the energy stored in the magnetic field is released and converted to particle thermal energy as a result of the magnetic field topological transformation, i.e., reconnection. It is also found that the normal field component has a minimal impact on the efficacy of the energy exchange.

• OSTI ID: 20860294
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 13, Issue 10; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2354580; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; 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
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
CONSERVATION LAWS
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY TRANSFER
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOTAIL
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
RADIATION TRANSPORT
TOPOLOGY
TRANSFORMATIONS