Petschek reconnection with a nonlocalized resistivity

Journal Article · Thu Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3062833· OSTI ID:21272444

Baty, H ^[1]; Forbes, T G ^[2]; Priest, E R ^[3]

---

1. Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg, 11, rue de l'Universite, 67000 Strasbourg (France)
2. Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, New Hampshire 03824 (United States)
3. Institute of Mathematics, University of St. Andrews, Fife KY169SS, Scotland (United Kingdom)

The impact of using a nonlocalized electrical resistivity having a spatially asymmetric profile is considered on two-dimensional steady-state magnetic reconnection. Starting from an initial Harris current sheet, time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic simulations are carried out over an entire spatial domain without any symmetry assumptions. It is shown that a stationary Petschek-like reconnection is obtained in the half-plane where a uniform resistivity is adopted. The latter configuration is maintained by a coexisting Petschek configuration that is formed in the second half-plane where the resistivity exhibits a classical exponentially decreasing variation. The structure of the central diffusion region is asymmetric, with a stagnation point flow which does not coincide with the X-point. These results suggest conditions under which a Petschek solution can indeed exist in the presence of a small uniform resistivity in the whole domain.

• OSTI ID: 21272444
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 16; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS