Asymmetric magnetic reconnection with out-of-plane shear flows in a two dimensional hybrid model

Journal Article · Fri May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4919965· OSTI ID:22410290

Wang, Lin ^[1]; Wang, Xiao-Gang ^[2]; Wang, Xian-Qu ^[3]; Liu, Yue ^[1]

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1. MOE Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Beams and School of Physics and Optoelectronic Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024 (China)
2. Department of Physics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001 (China)
3. State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology and School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China)

Effects of out-of-plane shear flows on asymmetric magnetic reconnect are investigated in a two-dimensional (2D) hybrid model with an initial Harris sheet equilibrium. It is found that the out-of-plane flow with an in-plane shear can significantly change the asymmetric reconnection process as well as the related geometry. The magnetic flux, out-of-plane magnetic field, in-plane flow vorticity, plasma density, and the reconnection rate are discussed in detail. The results are in comparison with the cases without the shear flows to further understand the effect.

• OSTI ID: 22410290
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
FLOW MODELS
GEOMETRY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
PLASMA DENSITY
SHEAR
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VORTICES