Three-Dimensional Dynamics of Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection in Large-Scale Pair Plasmas

Journal Article · Fri Sep 19 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.101.125001· OSTI ID:21179734

Yin, L; Daughton, W; Albright, B J; Bowers, Kevin J; Margulies, J ^[1]; Karimabadi, H ^[2]

---

1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544 (United States)
2. University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States)

Using the largest three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations to date, collisionless magnetic reconnection in large-scale electron-positron plasmas without a guide field is shown to involve complex interaction of tearing and kink modes. The reconnection onset is patchy and occurs at multiple sites which self-organize to form a single, large diffusion region. The diffusion region tends to elongate in the outflow direction and become unstable to secondary kinking and formation of 'plasmoid-rope' structures with finite extent in the current direction. The secondary kink folds the reconnection current layer, while plasmoid ropes at times follow the folding of the current layer. The interplay between these secondary instabilities plays a key role in controlling the time-dependent reconnection rate in large-scale systems.

• OSTI ID: 21179734
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 101; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRONS
INTERACTIONS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
POSITRONS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TIME DEPENDENCE