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Transient magnetic reconnection and unstable shear layers
1Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|April 6, 2001
Summary
We investigated 3D magnetic reconnection in plasma flows, driven by Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability. Lower resistivity enhanced kinetic energy and produced bipolar structures, similar to Earth
Area of Science:
- Plasma physics
- Magnetohydrodynamics
- Astrophysical phenomena
Background:
- Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process in plasma physics.
- Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability can drive magnetic reconnection.
- Understanding reconnection is crucial for phenomena like solar flares and Earth's magnetosphere.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate three-dimensional magnetic reconnection in subsonic and sub-Alfvenic flows.
- To explore the effects of Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability and differential rotation on reconnection.
- To analyze the role of resistivity in the reconnection process.
Main Methods:
- Modeling three-dimensional plasma flows using resistive magnetohydrodynamic equations.
- Simulating flows stable along the magnetic field but unstable perpendicular to it.
- Analyzing the impact of constant resistivity on reconnection dynamics.
Main Results:
- Observed localized transient magnetic reconnection on the KH time scale.
- Found that kinetic energy increases with decreasing resistivity.
- Detected bipolar structures in normal flux and bidirectional jetting, analogous to flux-transfer events.
Conclusions:
- Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and differential rotation drive significant 3D magnetic reconnection.
- Resistivity plays a key role in the energy conversion during reconnection.
- The observed phenomena provide insights into energy transfer in astrophysical plasmas.