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Title: The inversion layer of electric fields and electron phase-space-hole structure during two-dimensional collisionless magnetic reconnection

Abstract

Based on two-dimensional fully kinetic simulations that resolve the electron diffusion layer in undriven collisionless magnetic reconnection with zero guide field, this paper reports the existence and evolution of an inversion layer of bipolar electric fields, its corresponding phase-space structure (an electron-hole layer), and the implication to collisionless dissipation. The inversion electric field layer is embedded in the layer of bipolar Hall electric field and extends throughout the entire length of the electron diffusion layer. The electron phase-space hole structure spontaneously arises during the explosive growth phase when there exist significant inflows into the reconnection layer, and electrons perform meandering orbits across the layer while being cyclotron-turned toward the outflow directions. The cyclotron turning of meandering electrons by the magnetic field normal to the reconnection layer is shown to be a primary factor limiting the current density in the region where the reconnection electric field is balanced by the gradient (along the current sheet normal) of the off-diagonal electron pressure-tensor.

Authors:
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824 (United States)
  2. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21532186
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 18; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3529365; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; DIFFUSION; ELECTRIC FIELDS; ELECTRONS; MAGNETIC RECONNECTION; PHASE SPACE; PLASMA SIMULATION; TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; FERMIONS; LEPTONS; MATHEMATICAL SPACE; SIMULATION; SPACE

Citation Formats

Lijen, Chen, Lefebvre, Bertrand, Torbert, Roy B, and Daughton, William S. The inversion layer of electric fields and electron phase-space-hole structure during two-dimensional collisionless magnetic reconnection. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1063/1.3529365.
Lijen, Chen, Lefebvre, Bertrand, Torbert, Roy B, & Daughton, William S. The inversion layer of electric fields and electron phase-space-hole structure during two-dimensional collisionless magnetic reconnection. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3529365
Lijen, Chen, Lefebvre, Bertrand, Torbert, Roy B, and Daughton, William S. 2011. "The inversion layer of electric fields and electron phase-space-hole structure during two-dimensional collisionless magnetic reconnection". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3529365.
@article{osti_21532186,
title = {The inversion layer of electric fields and electron phase-space-hole structure during two-dimensional collisionless magnetic reconnection},
author = {Lijen, Chen and Lefebvre, Bertrand and Torbert, Roy B and Daughton, William S},
abstractNote = {Based on two-dimensional fully kinetic simulations that resolve the electron diffusion layer in undriven collisionless magnetic reconnection with zero guide field, this paper reports the existence and evolution of an inversion layer of bipolar electric fields, its corresponding phase-space structure (an electron-hole layer), and the implication to collisionless dissipation. The inversion electric field layer is embedded in the layer of bipolar Hall electric field and extends throughout the entire length of the electron diffusion layer. The electron phase-space hole structure spontaneously arises during the explosive growth phase when there exist significant inflows into the reconnection layer, and electrons perform meandering orbits across the layer while being cyclotron-turned toward the outflow directions. The cyclotron turning of meandering electrons by the magnetic field normal to the reconnection layer is shown to be a primary factor limiting the current density in the region where the reconnection electric field is balanced by the gradient (along the current sheet normal) of the off-diagonal electron pressure-tensor.},
doi = {10.1063/1.3529365},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21532186}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 1,
volume = 18,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2011},
month = {Sat Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2011}
}