The role of the Weibel instability at the reconnection jet front in relativistic pair plasma reconnection

Journal Article · Fri Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2836623· OSTI ID:21103798

Zenitani, S; Hesse, M ^[1]

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1. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 (United States)

The role of the Weibel instability is investigated for the first time in the context of the large-scale magnetic reconnection problem. A late-time evolution of magnetic reconnection in relativistic pair plasmas is demonstrated by particle-in-cell simulations. In the outflow regions, powerful reconnection jets pile up the magnetic fields and then a contact discontinuity appears there. Further downstream, it is found that the two-dimensional extension of the relativistic Weibel instability generates electromagnetic fields, which are comparable to the antiparallel or piled-up fields. In a microscopic viewpoint, the instability allows the plasma's multiple interactions with the discontinuity. In a macroscopic viewpoint, the instability leads to rapid expansion of the current sheet and then the reconnection jet front further propagates into the downstream. Possible application to the three-dimensional case is briefly discussed.

• OSTI ID: 21103798
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 15; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA JETS
PLASMA SIMULATION
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS