Fast reconnection of magnetic fields in a plasma

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5807831

Hu, P N

Reconnection process of magnetic fields in a plasma is analytically studied by perturbing the boundary conditions on a slab of incompressible plasma with a resonant surface inside. It is found, for small resistivity, that the reconnection takes place on Alfven time scale and continues into a slow time scale t/sub 1/ = eta/sup 1/3/t. Both time scales are faster than the usual tearing time scale. Furthermore, the plasma evolves globally from its initial equilibrium on the slow time scale and settles down to a different final equilibrium.

• Research Organization: New York Univ., NY (USA). Magneto-Fluid Dynamics Div.
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76ER03077
• OSTI ID: 5807831
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/03077-179; ON: DE83017123
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700202* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Magnet Coils & Fields
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
TEARING INSTABILITY