Magnetohydrodynamic study for three-dimensional instability of the Petschek type magnetic reconnection

Journal Article · Sun Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2013 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4846857· OSTI ID:22218328

Shimizu, T.; Kondoh, K. ^[1]

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1. Research Center for Space and Cosmic Evolution, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577 (Japan)

The 3D instability of the spontaneous fast magnetic reconnection process is studied with magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations, where the 2D model of the spontaneous fast magnetic reconnection is destabilized in three dimension. As well known in many 2D numerical MHD studies, when a 1D current sheet is destabilized with the current-driven anomalous resistivity, the 2D Petschek type fast magnetic reconnection is established. This paper shows that the 2D Petschek type fast magnetic reconnection can be destabilized in three dimension by an initial resistive disturbance which includes a weak fluctuation in the sheet current direction, i.e., along the magnetic neutral line. The resulting 3D fast magnetic reconnection finally becomes intermittent and random through a 3D instability. In addition, it is also shown that the 3D instability is suppressed by the uniform resistivity. It suggests that the 3D instability is caused in the Petschek-type reconnection process which is characterized by a strongly localized magnetic diffusion region and the slow shock acceleration of the plasma jets and is suppressed in the Sweet-Parker type reconnection process.

• OSTI ID: 22218328
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 20; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DIFFUSION
DISTURBANCES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
FLUCTUATIONS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA JETS
PLASMA SIMULATION
RANDOMNESS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS