Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026
09:09
Asymmetric Thermoelectrochemical Cell for Harvesting Low-grade Heat under Isothermal Operation
Published on: February 5, 2020
7.6K
Orientation and Stability of Asymmetric Magnetic Reconnection X Line
Yi-Hsin Liu1, M Hesse2,3, T C Li1
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
|October 27, 2018
Summary
The orientation of magnetic reconnection x lines is crucial for efficient energy transfer. Particle-in-cell simulations show that optimal x line orientation maximizes reconnection rates, while forced orientations can lead to turbulence.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Astrophysics
- Space Physics
Background:
- Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental plasma process.
- Understanding x line orientation is key to controlling reconnection dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the orientation and stability of magnetic reconnection x lines in asymmetric geometries.
- Determine how x line orientation affects reconnection rates and stability.
Main Methods:
- Three-dimensional (3-D) particle-in-cell simulations were employed.
- Simulations were conducted in large domains to minimize boundary effects.
- 2-D simulations were used for comparison.
Main Results:
- The reconnection x line naturally adopts an optimal orientation that maximizes the reconnection rate.
- Forced x line orientations can trigger secondary oblique tearing modes.
- The divergence of the nongyrotropic pressure tensor breaks the frozen-in condition.
Conclusions:
- The intrinsic physics favors specific x line orientations for efficient reconnection.
- Forcing reconnection into non-optimal orientations can lead to instability and turbulence, especially in confined systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Rotation of Asymmetric Top
1.5K
By definition, a spherically symmetric body has the same moment of inertia about any axis passing through its center of mass. This situation changes if there is no spherical symmetry. Since most rigid bodies are not spherically symmetric, these require special treatment.
The relationship between the angular momentum of any rigid body and its angular velocity, both of which are vectors, involves the moment of inertia. The moment of inertia is a scalar quantity only for spherically symmetric...
The relationship between the angular momentum of any rigid body and its angular velocity, both of which are vectors, involves the moment of inertia. The moment of inertia is a scalar quantity only for spherically symmetric...
1.5K
01:35Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
9.9K
Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
9.9K
03:18Nuclear Stability
23.3K
Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together...
To hold positively charged protons together...
23.3K
01:53RNA Stability
35.7K
Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
35.7K
01:13Location and Orientation of the Heart
10.2K
The human heart, despite its modest size and weight, is an organ of remarkable strength and endurance. Roughly the size of a fist, the heart weighs between 250 and 350 grams and is nestled within the mediastinum, the medial cavity of the thorax. It extends obliquely for about 12 to 14 cm, resting on the superior surface of the diaphragm. The heart is positioned anterior to the vertebral column and posterior to the sternum, with two-thirds of its mass lying to the left of the midsternal line.
10.2K
01:28Stability
418
The time response of a linear time-invariant (LTI) system can be divided into transient and steady-state responses. The transient response represents the system's initial reaction to a change in input and diminishes to zero over time. In contrast, the steady-state response is the behavior that persists after the transient effects have faded.
The stability of an LTI system is determined by the roots of its characteristic equation, known as poles. A system is stable if it produces a bounded...
The stability of an LTI system is determined by the roots of its characteristic equation, known as poles. A system is stable if it produces a bounded...
418