The formation and stability of Petschek reconnection

Journal Article · Sat Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2014 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4901918· OSTI ID:22403251

A combined analytical and numerical study of magnetic reconnection in two-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamics is carried out by using different explicit spatial variations of the resistivity. A special emphasis on the existence of stable/unstable Petschek's solutions is taken, comparing with the recent analytical model given by Forbes et al. [Phys. Plasmas 20, 052902 (2013)]. Our results show good quantitative agreement between the analytical theory and the numerical solutions for a Petschek-type solution to within an accuracy of about 10% or better. Our simulations also show that if the resistivity profile is relatively flat near the X-point, one of two possible asymmetric solutions will occur. Which solution occurs depends on small random perturbations of the initial conditions. The existence of two possible asymmetric solutions, in a system which is otherwise symmetric, constitutes an example of spontaneous symmetry breaking.

• OSTI ID: 22403251
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 21; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ASYMMETRY
DISTURBANCES
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PERTURBATION THEORY
STABILITY
SYMMETRY BREAKING
TWO-DIMENSIONAL SYSTEMS