Kinematics of relativistic magnetic reconnection

Journal Article · Mon Jan 24 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.494· OSTI ID:5311174

Blackman, E G; Field, G B ^[1]

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1. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (United States) Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (United States)

We study the relativistic generalizations of two-dimensional Sweet-Parker and Petschek reconnection models in the context of a relativistic pair plasma. The solutions show that if the outflow velocity from the resistive region approaches the relativistic Alfven speed, the outflow density increase from Lorentz contraction allows a much faster inflow and thus a faster rate of magnetic energy dissipation than in the nonrelativistic regime. We briefly suggest applications of this result.

• OSTI ID: 5311174
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 72:4; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700340* -- Plasma Waves
Oscillations
& Instabilities-- (1992-)
ALFVEN WAVES
DATA
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INFORMATION
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
NUMERICAL DATA
PLASMA
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
THEORETICAL DATA
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
USES
VELOCITY