THREE-DIMENSIONAL RECONNECTION INVOLVING MAGNETIC FLUX ROPES

Journal Article · Tue Jul 10 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/753/2/131· OSTI ID:22039406

Gekelman, W; Van Compernolle, B ^[1]; Lawrence, E ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095 (United States)
2. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ (United States)

Two and three magnetic flux ropes are created and studied in a well-diagnosed laboratory experiment. The twisted helical bundles of field lines rotate and collide with each other over time. In the two rope case, reverse current layers indicative of reconnection are observed. Using a high spatial and temporal resolution three-dimensional volume data set in both cases, quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs) are identified in the magnetic field. Originally developed in the context of solar magnetic reconnection, QSLs are thought to be preferred sites for reconnection. This is verified in these studies. In the case of three flux ropes there are multiple QSLs, which come and go in time. The divergence of the field lines within the QSLs and the field line motion is presented. In all cases, it is observed that the reconnection is patchy in space and bursty in time. Although it occurs at localized positions it is the result of the nonlocal behavior of the flux ropes.

• OSTI ID: 22039406
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 753; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ASTRONOMY
ASTROPHYSICS
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
RESOLUTION
SPACE
SUN
TOPOLOGY