Particle simulation study of collisionless driven reconnection in a sheared magnetic field

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.872088· OSTI ID:466895

Horiuchi, R; Sato, T ^[1]

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1. Theory and Computer Simulation Center, National Institute for Fusion Science, Nagoya 464-01 (Japan)

Nonlinear development of collisionless driven reconnection and the consequent energy conversion process between the field and particles in a sheared magnetic field are investigated by means of a two-and-one-half-dimensional particle simulation. Magnetic reconnection takes place in two steps irrespective of a longitudinal magnetic field, but the growth rate of the reconnection field varies in proportion to the {bold E{times}B} drift velocity at an input boundary. It is clearly observed that the triggering mechanism of collisionless driven reconnection for the fast growing phase changes from an electron meandering dominance in a weak longitudinal field to an electron inertia dominance in a strong field. The electron acceleration and heating take place in the reconnection area under the influence of reconnection electric field, while the electron energy is converted to the ion energy through the action of an electrostatic (ambipolar) field excited by magnetic compression in the downstream. It is also found that, in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field, the electron acceleration by the reconnection field takes place effectively and the generated force-free current is maintained for a long period while forming an asymmetric spatial profile of current layer. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 466895
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 4; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA SIMULATION
VELOCITY