Title: Particle-in-cell simulations of magnetically driven reconnection using laser-powered capacitor coils

Abstract

In this study, we propose an experimental scheme to fulfill magnetically driven reconnections. Here, two laser beams are focused on a capacitor-coil target and then strong currents are wired in two parallel circular coils. Magnetic reconnection occurs between the two magnetic bubbles created by the currents in the two parallel circular coils. A two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation model in the cylindrical coordinate is used to investigate such a process, and the simulations are performed in the $(r,z)$ plane. The results show that with the increase of the currents in the two coils, the associated magnetic bubbles expand and a current sheet is formed between the two bubbles. Magnetic reconnection occurs when the current sheet is sufficiently thin. A quadrupole structure of the magnetic field in the $\theta$ direction ( $B_{\theta }$) is generated in the diffusion region and a strong electron current along the $r$ direction ( $J_{er}$) is also formed due to the existence of the high-speed electron flow away from the X line in the center of the outflow region. Finally, because the X line is a circle along the $\theta$ direction, the convergence of the plasma flow around $r=0$ will lead to the asymmetry of $J_{er}$ and $B_{\theta }$ between the two outflow regions of magnetic reconnection.

Authors:

Huang, Kai  ^[1];

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Lu, Quanming ^[1]; Gao, Lan ^[2]; Ji, Hantao ^[3]; Wang, Xueyi ^[4]; Fan, Feibin ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Hefei (China). CAS Key Lab. of Geospace Environment. Dept. of Geophysics and Planetary Science
2. Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
3. Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Astrophysical Sciences
4. Auburn Univ., AL (United States). Physics Dept.

Publication Date:

2018-05-07

Research Org.:

Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Hefei (China)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE; 973 Program (China); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences, CAS (China)

OSTI Identifier:

1467034

Grant/Contract Number:  

2013CBA01503; 41331067; 41527804; 11220101002; QYZDJ-SSW-DQC010

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Physics of Plasmas

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 25; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:

American Institute of Physics (AIP)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; magnetic reconnection; plasma flows; Hall mobility; electric currents; particle-in-cell method; shock waves; geometry; particle acceleration; plasma sources